Topic: Is Marriage a contract or a union? (Read 729 times)

Marriage is supposed to be a union and not a contract because marriage is said to be a union of two people who commit each other emotionally, spiritually, and physically, and the union is often seen as a source of support and strength and leads to everlasting happiness and the well-being of each other, but some take it as a contract because they believe that marriage only involves child bearing, providing for the family, and so on, especially some men who marry just to enslave their wives by forcing them to do things against their will even when they are don't want, they like to share responsibilities with their wife's 50-50, like paying taxes, school fees, provisions etc and there is no happiness in such marriage or love.

Marriage is a union it can never be based on a contract. Because a person becomes a complete human being through marriage, two united become each other through mutual trust. So when through marriage a human being becomes complete we can never call marriage a contract it is a union. But to socially recognize it and get a solution to any post-marriage problem, it is converted into some kind of contract. After all, marriage is definitely a union, but in this case, it depends on the mentality of the two people whether it is really a union or just a contract.

Is Marriage a contract or a union?

It is a really good question you asked. As Of My thinking it is both. both not at the same place or time. It depends on the people where they want to unite two people together or make a deal out of it.

There are many people who make marriage a business contract to make partnership stronger. i am talking about the business partners. In this case There is no willing to be united between two persons. They deal this marriage as a business deal.

On the other hand there is love, and then marriage. this is call a union. There is willing to be united from both sides. groom and bride. they are happy with each other. And this is called a true union.

so that's why i think it can be both. at different time and places.

then indeed they are both important as we also need a Paper letter to prove us being married and this will keep us reminding about being married , and yeah this is a union that will keep us tagging together all our life .
if given a chance and money ? I will marry my wife over and over again.

To me marriage is a union and not contract. Although most people I see, always judge marriage according to how they feel it should be, some people goes to the extent of turning in it to a contract without undermining that marriage if of union than contract. I had a friend that did a contract marriage he has regretted his action . Meaning that marriage should be of union.

No he is not instead he just wanna hear our side in this matter and indeed its debatable mate , some believes it is a contract some its a Union but marriage is about those both.
it is a contract signed by the couple and a union for them to stand for.

Marriage from inscription is said to be a union between a man and a woman but individual attributes has made a union as well as a contract, in my perspective I will term marriages with individuals who tend to live together longer so far there is life to be a union while marriages with individuals that doesn't last long by being separated even in life to be a contract because it has defiled it purpose and got terminated thou this where not planned but it happens because of one reason or the other. A good man build his family same as a good woman,  people should be careful in making there choice of  marriage partner as well as considering certain level of tolerance and readjustments because these are set's of people  raised and trained from different homes and backgrounds. Marriage should be enjoying not enduring, That is all for now.

I think marriage is a contractual union because when you get married there is a certificate that husband and wife will live together based on mutual cordial relationship with mutual respect.
If you look at different countries, different regions different communities and analyze different theologies, you will see that there they meet each other by taking responsibility for each other.
But if you can't see or accept the agreement or agreement as a union, you can never expect anything good from it, be it logic or union.
So from the above little discussion, we can say that marriage is a contractual union.

Good  answer, this means being United as one and that is the best part in which the contract is just a paper holding but cannot effect the meaning of Marriage that you must love each other , and must dedicate each other even in death that is what love/marriage means to those who really understand this.

Marriage as union or contract is two inevitable factor of marriage, they way you define the marriage from the start tells you if it's a contract or union. Some defined the contract to be informed of pays you off after child give, some pays you for sex only no child bearing etc but the union is where you signed to leave with the person with all you have till death do you apart. But in a nutshell the two factor here have direct and indirect connection that you can't separate one it must exists be it directly or indirectly.

What Causes the termination of most of this marriages is lack of mutual understanding. Young boys and girls of nowadays don't know the true meaning of marriage. According to an article I read, it says that marriage is dead. Meaning: for you to last in any relationship expecially marriage you must behave like a dead man or woman who doesn't hear or say something. So in marriage yound couples think marriage is going to church wearing wedding Gown and a luxurious cars with fine photos which they are not inwardly ready for marriage. When they go into the marriage they start seeing something different. 1. you would not be able to have that comfort and privacy anymore 2 . You must stop clubing drinking and doing Unnecessary things that will show that you are now responsible. Otherwise your marriage would not last.

In all religions, marriage is the process of uniting two different people, so before getting married, try to ensure that you have a good financial foundation first, this is so that your marriage lasts a long time and lasts until you are both old.

but the very important thing is to choose your partner carefully, don't choose carelessly because marriage is something that will last a lifetime, if you marry the wrong person (whether it's a cheater, lazy, or wasteful) then you can be sure of your marriage relationship won't last long.

Marriage is a choice in my opinion, when two individuals feel that they are going to spend the rest of their lives together and want to have their kids then they will get married. For many reasons, marriages can break and you can't stop many of them there is no point of holding a broken glass because it can never be used to fill water. If they decided to separate then children are the one who will be affected more than husband or wife, so think hundred times before you have a kid.

Actually you don't have to go through that because before marriage you must have both talking
about every dreams ,wishes and thoughts to each others so before engaging in marriage nyou already knew
each others and that is the common problem about people settling down now because of lack of knowledge
with each others and yeah they don't know the person they are marrying completely .
Look like there is a complete marriage here?

congrats having each others guys , and you deserve each of you,

Marriage being a contract or a union is dependent on how you and your partner agreed to live with each other though the intended aim of marriage is to stand as a union that ought to last for a lifetime but it is rather unfortunate that due to high rate of divorces in this modern age, a lot of partners either goes into agreement of contract on how the marriage is gonna be, there are some persons that are only interested in their partner giving birth and raising the child to a certain age afterwhich they settle the woman with an agreed amount of money then the woman goes away and would not have anything in common with the child and in terms of the man too there are also women that enters into a contract with their partners just so that the man can impregnate her then the woman settles him and claim custody of the baby when they are born.

Formerly, there was nothing of this nature before because it will be very sad for a child to grow up knowing that they don't have either of the parents whereby other children goes about with their parents and when the child sees such they might be exposed to emotional trauma because normally it isn't really easy for any child whose parents ain't together as they go through a lot during their upbringing.

Biblically or taking religion into consideration, you would find out that the purpose of our Creator creating man and woman is because of companionship between the both parties till eternity rather than just being Interested in a contract that wouldn't lead to a long lasting companionship.

why does these cases happening in the world now, marriages supposedly sacred and lifetime validity but now this sometimes uses as milking pot of other people ..

Paycheck is ok but with kids? and we are just given short time to be with them is truly frustrating because if this happens to me , i would rather lose my wife than my child.

Well what it is these days is a woman checks off the boxes then on to the next best thing. She can be the worst human being in the world and it doesn't matter, you are going to be paying for her and your kids you won't see for a long time. Sure I am jaded but I find greater than 50%  of my friends in this boat. She gets a paycheck and the kids.

In marriage, you have to compromise certain things. Do not try to force your wishes or thoughts on your partner. Respect is of the utmost importance in marriage. Some people consider the wife as a slave, particularly in the sub-continent. One more thing, both husband and wife should give each other personal space. This will build mutual trust between the couple.

I love my Wife , what we have is A Union and completed with contract this is how much we respect and give pay to our marriage , we have been married for many years now and indeed committing with each others for life .

So like what other says , Marriage is a Contract and a Union .

Just as franky1 stated nothing can be taken from it, both union and contract are two important key in marriage but any one who goes into marriage chooses what he/she what out or tag the process to be for them, is really a matter of perception how you who is going into it take it.

Nowadays we see that marriage is being in just the contract because union only happens in the first years if them being together and after sometime will find out hating each others and consider having a divorce or separation this is how marriages is being abused now to just get what they wanted and then leave just like that.
not in the old days that once you are married 99% that you will be dying in each others company.

Looks like there are even that oppose about Marriage being Union ..

Wife must follow Husband , and husband must trust and respect His wife . Father is the head of the family but Wife is the light so that means they must both have each others back to make the family better.

well US is just small part of the world in which valued the marriage as Traditional and respected nit like in other countries like US that getting wedding and then a divorce .

correct , that is just a Proof of marriage but what is important about this is the Bonding and understanding of these two humans , their Heart must be one , their thoughts must be one , and their plans must be one as well.


with those attitude and character for sure that marriage will never be broken .

In my opinion, emotionally and mentally, marriage is a union between two people who like and embrace each other with all their attributes.
Signing a marriage certificate/ legal document is a contract, a proof of marriage.

The function of marriage is to unite two people, make a life together and create offspring to continue the family lineage and reputation that may be passed down through generations. Until it does not stop at that generation and continues to renew. Maintaining marriage is a shared responsibility to practice emotional detachment, benefit with a harmonious attitude and do it every day, I don't agree if marriage is only considered as a game because when there is a problem it must be resolved together and not raise each other. purely from the give and take of love, giving advice and receiving advice and complementing each other.

If there are people here who are not married, then get married because it's not that bad, I mean the economy is a reason and an important factor but that doesn't mean having the economy has a mature eel that can keep the integrity. the divorce rate may be high in an area but more people keep the marriage well. A little problem that arises is natural, the most important thing is to be able to make peace with the situation and continue living together as usual, not a matter of age but a matter of mindset.

The true meaning of marriage is an eternal connection between a man and a woman to establish a family because they were created to complet each other, to complete their lives under one roof in solidarity in all circumstances. This is what was called marriage in the past, but in our time the values ​​and principles have changed and everyone is taking this step without realizing it. Because of the responsibility that both parties must bear, the divorce rate has become high. Selfishness, thinking about oneself, and making irresponsible decisions are the reason.

Exactly , better choose the right one and not just the random person that we fell inlove but what about them? do they love us back as much as we do?
because sometimes we  thought this is the one but suddenly we don't and ending us either separated or not treating each others right when time passed by.
so it is Union as well?

I see Marriage as a union, where you complete your partner and vice versa.

To fall in love and to love with all your senses and from the deep bottom of your heart is priceless.

Marriage is great but it all depends on your partner, did you chose him/her well?

The answer may seem simple, but it's not.

I really like the idea of a traditional old world value marriage.

However here in the US that idea is largely dead and as a male it's highly biased against the man.

It's over here, don't do it.

If there is a love then that is Union because the relationship runs with heart.

If this is about Money/lust then this is just a contract that bonded only by the desire and wanting.

so Check you marriage if what do you stand on it.

A contract and Union that we must stick on .

A Contract because we have vowed to be together all your life , for better or worst sickness and health and till death  do you part.

But also a Union that Love must conquer everything that mentioned above.

I think so too. Imagine marriage as a mix of legal stuff, like sharing assets and responsibilities, and an emotional bond where you've got a teammate for life. It's like signing a contract to be both business partners and each other's support crew.

Marriage, well. That depends on if you love your wife or not. If you don't then it will feel like a contract far more than a union.

Marriage according to my religion and culture is a union but in other countries especially the western part it is usually regard to as a contract. So it varies among different people ,countries, culture and religion.

There are grounds for it.

But what's sad is that divorce is being used by those that are just into tasting period of their lives. They might be into a serious relationship but then, you know when someone fall out of love, this is where it is going.

I agree to the grounds and reasons that divorce can be valid with those reasons for in both agrees that they're no longer happy to each other's side.

Divorce has appeared to be seen as a norm especially in the western part of the world which shouldn’t be completely seen as a menace because a-times it could happen for good reason. A divorce can and should only go through if any one of the parties involve themselves in infidelity, domestic violence or if the marriage was an arranged marriage… courting is really the foundation of any successful marriage

This is because of wrong understanding of what Love is , some mistaken Lust and Intimacy into love in which two different cases , Heart and sex is not the same lol.

Marriage should be a Union and for me there must be no contract at all because a true couple that loves each others and understand the meaning of what they are entering needs no Contract to be bonded but only needs feelings and mind to process the relationship .

 Ofcourse, it's a Union... a union of the opposite gender🔺🔻to become one body/flesh ♦️.  Replace the word Contract with Agreement or Covenant so the whole thing doesn't sound worldly.
The covenant is basically an agreement on how they will conduct themselves in the marriage, of which If the husband or wife or both fails to fulfill there will be conflict or disagreement.

The Content of the Covenant (both known and unknown) is this:
The husband is the Head (like a King) of the Family while the woman is basically the queen who submits to the Head. The King's office or throne is established in Righteousness, or better still the king rules the family Righteously or according to GOD's Law which is the law of love for GOD and people(love for wife & children especially).
Treat the family right/good always as love does no wrong. Do not cause your subject or family to do evil. The wife or family member has the right to disobey evil commands from the husband, like wise the husband. But this should be done with respect for the one in leadership position (or the one who despises evil). The head is expected to reciprocate the respect to the responsible wife but if he doesn't, he may not deserve more respect... This doesn't mean he should be insulted, disrespected or dishonored(synonym of respect is honor)... Just let him know his high moral standard is what you loved and bowed to...maybe that will encourage him to continue in that standard. Respect = to have high regards for the righteous, elderly, leaders, the wise, in humble manner... Basically respect is for people who do things the way those in higher position are supposed to do them. And that way has to be right/good.
If the husband and wife do things right then the marriage covenant is not broken and the union last long in love & harmony.  Conflict or disagreement should be settled according to the law... Better still use the law to know and correct what caused the issue or conflict.

I think too, marriage is both a union and a contract.There is no need to get married to unite. But marriage is required for the contract. Because society and the state do not recognize the contract without marriage. The state and society want us to marry for inheritance and other official rights. I think this situation creates pressure on couples.

I think it's both of them, it is a contract because you have to approve things in your girl and she has to do the same because it is an union between two humans with different mentality and different thoughts, and different sex, so it's some of life contract.

I don't agree that people divorce because they didn't marry for love.
I agree that there are people that marry for other reasons but marrying for love doesn't mean the marriage can't fail.
A lot of things can cause a marriage to end in divorce. It could be that they feel out of love with each other, or things just didn't work out. It may be poor communication, infidelity, the nature of the job, domestic violence, etc. A lot of different things.

Aside from the effect that divorce has on kids, I don't see anything wrong with ending a marriage. If you're no longer happy in the marriage I don't see a point to continue if you both feel there's no way to work things out.
I can't advise a lady that is always been beaten by her husband to remain in that marriage simply because marriage is a union or whatever. Sometimes the best solution to a problem is to work away.

Yes, I am. That's fine, we do always get that impression from other regions and in fact, we've got some words that are exactly as they are or close to its sound.

There's not that much difference, sad to say that justice system here as much as I want to respect and don't want to say an opinion that's gonna make it bad. But, that's what really it is.

We're also people who love to take care of our family, we're family people, and as much as we want to take care of our families and keep it until we're gone. The culture setting is being changed based on what's happening in our society and that's why some laws are needed to be adopted and made just as the other countries.

So you are from Philippines. I personally sometimes mix up that country with Indonesia, both have a relatively high muslin population and are in the Pacific ocean.

Also, do not be surprised money is something which is used there to accelerate legal processes, it is basically the same here in Venezuela, if not worse. It is a symptom of a corrupted system, in my opinion.

Traditionally, here family has been viewed like one of the most important components of society, but divorce is something which is not stigmatized as much as previous years.

Yes, we're also aware of Muslim laws but that's an exception.

So except for our country, all countries really have an easy process for a divorce. Here, we've got almost the same thing called annulment but the process is really terrible and would take years even if you've got money to process it. The process here in applications is kind of slow, it's how our justice system works not just for this particular matter and that reality sucks but you've got a slight quicker process when you've got money. Really here, money matters and moves processes.

That is interesting. Is it really your country among the few which do not recognize divorces? Because I would have assumed most of countries around the planet had a relatively flexible set of laws to allow people to separate each other.

Of course, I was aware that in the case of countries which follow the sharia law or those who are mostly muslin, did not allowed couples to separate, because the obvious religious implications those divorces would imply.

In the case of my country, getting a divorce is relatively easy, one just need to pay for a lawyer to take care of it.

Before in my country, the paper of proof of marriage was called a marriage contract but then changed into a marriage certificate. What's the connection? Before you needed to renew that contract but when it was changed, it was a lifetime commitment which actually really is.
It is only our country and Vatican IIRC the countries that don't have divorce because we're giving importance to the union of two people of opposite sex. Recently, as this topic is timely, our senate is starting to make divorce a law. While we've got annulment in our country the process of making it valid is you'll go through a lot of time and money. Thus, most of the couples that are no longer in good terms just try to forget each other even they're married and find their new partners.

I would like to think as marriage as something beyond our current understanding of civil laws. Sure, there are supposed to be laws which regulate marriage and allow people to live a fulfilling ans healthy life together with their partners.  But, marriage is what the couple makes it to be, in the end.

If two people cannot live together and peacefully complement each other to enhance their life, then I would say their marriage does not have much meaning, on the other hand, when the love and understanding between them cannot be overstated, then they have fully found the meaning of their union.

With the pattern at which the world now evolves, many people would accept the fact of Marraiage as contract but that isn't how it should be treated, marraiage is a life time union
I see the direction you looking into, in the case of COURT MARRAIAGE . For the fact the Bride and Groom has to present themselves to the court and fill some documents doesn't make it a contract, that is just the system of giving legal security to both couples, where the law stands as judgment in there marraiage

It's important that your spouse has the same goals in life. In other words, you have to match perfectly and then you don't need any contracts.

I can give you 2 different examples of couples.
My parents got together because they were having fun, going out together, having sex, and they made me, so they got together to start a family. There was no real chemistry between them, they were together because they were bored alone and didn't really want to be in a stable relationship, which is why they split after more or less 10 years and both never married again.

I met my wife when we were in our 20s and we were together more than 10 years without marriage. We felt good with each other and never needed any paper to seal that. We did that for our families, to make it official for them and so that we'd have it easy if one of us gets into an accident, or dies, because a spouse has all the formal rights to visit you in the hospital, to inherit everything after your death, but a partner doesn't. You need wills legalized by a notary for everything like bank account access and all that, so it's just easier and cheaper to get married.

Anyway, we're together for more than 15 years and it's the same relationship we had before the contract.

I don't know how they intend to marry in other countries because when you are not brainwashed by social media and all of the new weird stuff that is currently going on, you will just intend to marry to make a family and live your life to the fullest without worrying too much because you finally found a home where your heart can rest. But because we have these trends where they are making it look like some good idea to make their husbands uncomfortable by not doing what he commands them to do even the simplest things as a wife, conflicts occur and it leads to divorces. the husband can no longer find solace in his wife and chooses to depart with her for good. if they only did not let outsiders interfere with their marriage such as social media and movies, we will see a low percentage of divorces right now.

Marriage is a coming of two opposite sexs from different places, different with characters coming together to make a home together regardless or to be 1+1 instead of 2 but =1 because there is to be an abidments of body and soul (union) with the necessity of loving , caring, honesty, transparency, sacrifices and tolerance exhibitions amongst both til death do them part.

However, the modelity of today has considered attractiveness and pleasures insight of marriage where something is attracted to the unionship and if the qualities of attraction is minized (fluctuation) or a total lost, then it calls a divorce (contract) where you either don't find the characters or the qualities of attractions anymore.
It could also serve as a caused of networking of greeds (gold-digging)

Religious couples have the lowest rates of divorce, and religious affiliation is falling.

If you look at the statistics, the reason why the divorce rate could be so high is that you have some segment of the population that has been married and divorced multiple times. If you're divorced once, chances are rather high it could happen again.


Financial support isn't enough. The metrics are rather clear that children from single parent household on average end up worse off than children raised in a two parent home.

Things differ in the world as there are different cultures, but civilization is also encroaching people's culture. It seems that things happen differently between my country and were you live. In my country, it is the parents (the woman's parents), who recieve and accept bride price and the man's parents pronounce them couple.
Infact, in extreme situations the parent has to reject many spouse for the son or choose by themselves who their son will marry. I know it sounds funny or unreal but it happens in my country.

There's no more respect in unions and marriages these days. The justification that they're having is that there is this law of divorce or annulment wherein they can simply restart and find another partner. Yes, even those couples that have kids, they don't mind separating since they can just co-parent to their children.

Sadly yes. But the emotional impact on the kids is high when they see their friends have their complete family and they don't have one. This is what they don't understand. But it's much better than to live together and suffer with each other's disagreement.

Separation needs to be agreed upon and there are laws that can declare that these separations are needed to be done for the sake of both parties. That's why before getting married, everyone should be prepared financially, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

Whatever you see it as is acceptable in everyone’s different views. Coming together to sign an agreed contract has made you both consented to have a union. What mostly leads to this divorce could be lies and inability of one partner to satisfy the needs of the other one. Many problems are involved in marriage though, and one thing or the other leads to divorce which most of them are indisputable.

Administratively, marriage is a contract that cannot be determined when it ends. Therefore, the perception of marriage must be looked at more than that by involving feelings and beliefs. Otherwise, perhaps someone could end their relationship contract as easily as they could say "it's over" and and only increase the number of children suffering from trauma in a broken family.

Its 100% now a contract that is one sided as fuck but just because you break this contract doesn't mean you don't have to keep true to your vows.

the ceremony of marriage is the union.
the signing of the marriage certificate is the contract(proof/consent of union)

It’s both a contract and a union. It’s a legal agreement between two individuals outlining their rights & responsibilities. At the same time it’s a deep emotional & spiritual bond symbolising the coming together of two lives. It's a blend of commitment, love & partnership where both parties work together to build a life filled with love, trust & support.

Well it depends on the divide you are coming from. In Africa it was initially regarded and known as a union between man and a woman called husband and wife, and to further tie the union, it extended to the inlaws who are also seen as family. In Africa, we also regard an inlaw as simblings or family. However, all these have changed. The union is tearing apart for different reasons and that is why people are now confused how to regard marriage.

The truth to your question is that people now contract a union in form of marriage because of certain reasons to survive in the system or country they find themselves. Marriage is suppose to be a union based on the intent of what it was meant for, procreation in the name of having a family but this have been changed. Change is constant and modernity keeps operating on the influence of change.

From what I understand is that so many people don't get married because of love rather they get married because of lost and wealth or maybe because they need someone to help them out in their businesses or to take care of their kids when they give birth. If the reason why Mr A marries a woman and he no longer see that which attracted him to the woman anymore, he will ask for a divorce because he didn't marry because of love.

What I mean is this, I might get married to a lady because she is rich, this means that I got married to her money and not her, and the moment inside the marriage, something happens that made her to loss her wealth, you will see it that I will no longer be interested in marrying her again, because the wealth is gone. If couples allows love to lead in their marriages, no matter the challenges that they are facing, they will tolerate one each other and stay strong to overcome it together as one. Another thing that can help again is to always have time to listen to your partner so that both husband and wife can know how to solve whatever issues that is before them.

Marriage is a union and not a contract, but when two persons that are not meant to be joined together as husband and wife, it will become a contract because divorce will be the case. 

It depends how you look at it. Money often divides people and I've noticed that couples that are rather poor or of average income work together to achieve something, but people who both have a lot of wealth tend to look at marriage like a business deal. Before they start living together they already divide assets to know who takes what if they split.


They really need to agree it with parents in your country? The people that I know simply announce it to their families and don't have to ask for permission.

Marriage is both a union and a contract. It is a union because both agreed and with their parents to married and the scriptures made it to be more the union.
It is also an agreement because when there is a disagreement which must have led to an irreparable damage, there is no other option than to end the contract.

It is not nice to call a divorce a menace. If they fall out of love and eventually does not divorce, such a situation may lead to murder. Would you prefer that someone dies or they go their separate ways. If you do not want divorce, simply correct those things that lead to divorce.

The rate at which we hear of divorce cases this days around the world is heart breaking. Particularly in the western world. What could be the main reason for this menace in our society. It's a menace because  when children are involved, they will be the one to suffer divided attention even though the law forces the parents to pay for their support. The question will then be: is financial  support all that it is to raising children?

If these divorces  are base on the way its viewed as a contract then it must have an end surely  because no contract last for a life time. However,  if marriage is look upon as union based on religious belief, then there a bidding involve. Ironic bonding transform the individuals to one flesh. So, if any party think of divorce, they will as well reflect on the impact it would have on themselves. Can you separate yourself?