Obviously, getting a divorce in Mexico is extremely different than getting a divorce in Colorado. But for a country that has often been associated with divorce, it’s interesting to see the changes to family law that officials come up with.
According to Reuters, Mexico City’s assembly is considering introducing “temporary” marriage licenses. The change to the civil code would allow people to commit to a minimum of two years of wedded bliss in the form of a marriage contract.
If at the end of the contract the couple is not happy, the contract merely ends. But it could also be renewed or extended if the couple wishes. Typical contracts would also include provisions regarding what would happen to children and the couple’s property if they break up. It’s not a prenuptial agreement, but it has similar echoes.
Conservatives in Mexico City are opposing the idea, which was initiated by leftists in the city’s assembly. They were already apparently upset about the legalization of gay marriage.
The Mexico City assemblyman who co-authored the bill says he expects a vote on the proposed law by the end of the year. The city is liberal compared to the rest of the country, and conservatives elsewhere are likely to oppose the idea. The church has already criticized the move.
According to Reuters, about half of the marriages in Mexico City end in divorce, and of those, most of them end within the first two years.
Source: MSNBC, “‘Til 2013 do us part? Mexico City mulls 2-year marriage,” Sept. 29, 2011