Marriage is the very foundation of the family which in turn is the basic structural unit of the society.Marriage is an agreement between a man and a woman to live as husband and wife respectively.
The institution in marriage is mostly regulated by the state laws. However, the States do not have the power of prohibiting a marriage without a valid reason. In view of the aforesaid, prohibiting inter racial marriage is not allowed for that would be in violation of Equal Protection Clause under the Constitution.
(More http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/Table_Marriage.htm http://www.law.cornell.edu/uniform/vol9.html http://www.law.cornell.edu/uniform/vol9.html#marp )
Under all the state laws an individual is allowed to have only one living husband or wife at a time. Once married an individual must be released from the wedlock by either death of the other spouse or divorce or dissolution of the earlier marriage before remarrying.
Individuals below the marriagable age or within close or prohibited degrees of realtionship are not permitted to marry. Many states have barred same sex marriage. In several states blood tests are compulsory for marriage.
President Bill Clinton signed into law in 1996 the Defense of Marriage Act which prohibits same sex marriages.
Child custody
In divorce cases, the court decides which parent shall have the custody of the child born out of wedlock. Child custody issues in break down of marriage are mostly governed by State laws.
(More http://www.law.cornell.edu/uniform/vol9.html#child)
Child Rights
A child is not a sub person over whom the parent can have absolute possessory right. ‘Child’ not only includes minor but also adult children. Children enjoy basis civil rights guarranteed by the Constitution. Both state and federal laws safeguard child rights.
Divorce Law
There are state laws in place on divorce. In ‘absolute’ divorce, there is termination or dissolution of the marriage as a result both spouses become single again otherwise eligible for remarriage. In ‘limited’ divorce there is separation or no co habitation decree on the couple without the dissolution of the marriage. Many states have enacted provisions for ‘no fault’ divorce which can be straight away invoked in case of irretrievable breakdown of marriage without requiring the applicant to furnish any proof of guilt of the other spouse.
(More http://www.divorcehelp.com/page.php?p=ashortcourse http://www.law.cornell.edu/uniform/vol9.html#divrc http://www.law.cornell.edu/uniform/vol9.html#prema )
Estate Planning and Trusts
Through estate planning an individual arranges the transfer of his assets among his family members and other intended beneficiaries in anticipation of his death. At the same time under this arrangement he retains flexibility to make changes when necessary.
An individual uses the mediums of Wills and trusts in course of estate planning to distribute his properties among the target beneficiaries. The Uniform Probate Code which many states have adopted governs these related areas of estate planning, wills and trusts.http://www.legaline.com/estate.htm
Right of Privacy
The privacy of family, marriage, motherhood, procreation, child rearing etc. is safeguarded by law.
