HmEc: Marriage

made for summer exams 2026- modify for LC

Marriage customs and variations

• minimum age

• choice of partners

• number of spouses

• location

• customs in ceremonies

Minimum age

• 18 in ireland

• not same for all countries

• eg. Sudan, 10 years old

Choice of partners

• all societies have some restraints

• In ireland consanguinity and affinity prohibited

• some cultures dont choose partners, eg. India (caste system)

Consanguinity definition

blood relationships

affinity definition

relationship by marriage

Caste system definition

class structure determined by birth

Number of spouses

• monogamy

• polygamy

Monogamy

• one spouse

• western and Christian societies

• criminal offence to have second marriage (bigamy)

• serial monogamy common (marrying and divorcing many people)

Polygamy

• more than one partner at the same time

• polygamists

• polygyny and polyandry

Polygyny

• man has multiple wives

• patriarichal

• islamic, african, mormon communities

Polyandry

• woman having multiple husbands

• poor agricultural societies

• tibetan and marquesas communities

• brothers marrying one woman (prevents land dvision)

• more men than woman on island

Location

• matrilocal: near wife’s family

• Patrilocal: near husband’s family

• neolocal: neutral location

Customs in marriage ceremonies

• glass broken under Jewish man’s foot

• Ceremonial fire walk and prayer in Hinduism

Legal requirements for marriage in Ireland

• over 18

• mental capacity

• notification

• registered venue

• free to marry

• voluntary basis

• wedding registration

• not closely related

Who must be notified of the marriage

• registrar for civil marriage ceremony

• registrar and priest/pastor/vicar for church ceremony

Possible registered venues for marriage

• registry office or other registrar approved venue

• church

Rights and responsibilities in a marriage

• cohabit and company

• sexual relations

• commitment and faithfulness

• financial support for dependant family members

• joint guardianship of children, meet their needs

• inherent from each other (all of estate unless specified)

What act means dependant members must be supported

Maintenance of Spouses and Children Act 1976

What act means partners can inheret from each other

Sucession Act 1965

estate definition

all of the valuable things a person owns

Areas of marriage preparation

• home

• school

• marriage courses

How does the home prepare a person for marriage

• stable, loving relationship= positive image

• tension relationship = negative image

• skills learned

How does school prepare a person for marriage

• SPHE builds relationship skills

• HomeEc explores roles, responsibilities and legals

• RE examines religious views

How do pre-marriage courses prepare a person for marriage

• discuss expectations

• discuss positive and negative traits

• strenghten communication skills

• address specific issues

Who provides pre marriage courses

• denominational groups (Accord Catholic Marriage Care)

• non denominational groups (Relationships Ireland)

How many families in Ireland today differ from the traditional model

1 in 3

Alternative family structures in Ireland today

• cohabiting couples (12%)

• one-parent (25.4%)

• blended (2.5%)

• same sex

Factors affecting marital stability

• young age

• unrealistic expectations

• different role expectations

• dissimilar interests

• socail problems

• infidelity

• unemployment

How does young age affect marriage

more likely to break down due to:

• lack of maturity in difficult situations

• lack of financial support

How do unrealistic expectations affect marriage

• eg. romantic fantasy

• leads to breakdown when idealism is not fufilled

• media fed

How do different role expectataions affect marriage

• common in partners from different cultures

How do dissimilar interests affect marriage

difficult to bond and enhance marital relationships

How do social problems affect marriage

• alcoholism, gambling, drugs

• broken communication, enconomic instabiloty and physical violence

How does infidelity affect marriage

• expectation of faithfulness

• trust lost if broken

How does unemployment affect marriage

• financial insecurity

• strain on relationships

Counselling is only effective if…

• both spouses attend and are serious

• problems not unsolvable

What is family mediation

a free service from Family Mediation Service for separating or divorcing couples to make arrangements

What arrangements have to be made for a separating/divorcing couple

• custody of children

• division of finance

• parenting of children

• issues concerning the home

what document is needed for the agreements to be legally binding

Deed of Separation

Benefits of mediation

• encourages cooperation and communication (reduced conflicts)

• enables joint descisions

• avoids involving children

• helps spouses come to terms with separation

What does a legally binding separation agreement include

• agreement to live apart

• arrangements for children

• amount of maintenance to be paid

• arrangements for home

• arrangements for succession and inheritance

What act is used in judical separation

• Judical Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989

• amended by Family Law act 1995

Grounds for application of judical separation

• adultery

• unreasonable behaviour (alcoholism)

• desertion for at least one year

• no marital relationship for at least one year

• no cohabiting for for one year with consent or three years without consent of application

Additional judical orders

• custody and access of children

• payment of maintenance

• allocation of proprety

• extinguishment of succession rights

Two types of separation

legal and judical

Nullity of marriage definition

decleration by a court that a supposed marriage is null and void, and that no valid marriage ever existed between two partners

Types of nullity

• legal

• church

Legal nullity

for couples marriaged in civil and church ceremonies, required to avoid bigamy

Church nullity

for couples who married in a church, no legal standing

Grounds for nullity

• one partner under 18

• one partner already married

• non-observence of requirements

• not free and full informed consent (duress, insanity, intoxication)

• unable to consummate the marriage

• pschiatric problems

Effects of nullity

• partners free to marry

• Succession ACt 1965, no legal entitelments to estate

What act brought divorce into ireland

Family Law Act 1996

Divorce definition

allows both partners to terminate thir existing marriage legally so they can remarry, irreversable

Grounds for divorce

• living apart for two of previous three years

• no possibility of reconcilliation (councilling)

• adequate provisions made

Social and economic factors affecting marital breakdown

• separation and divorce acceptable

• process of divorce easier

• women less financially dependant

• social welfare for single parents

• unemployment and social problems

Effects of marital breakdown on spouses

• guilt

• rejection (poor self worth)

• decline in standard of living (poor in general)

• struggle to pay bills

Effects of marital breakdown on children

• may feel responsible = guilt

• behavioural and emotional problems

• loneliness for parent

Effects of marital breakdown on society

• increase in one parent and blended families

• increase in need for accomodation

• dependance on social welfare (One-parent Family Payment)