THE MARRIAGE EDUCATION ACT

RAISES THE FEE FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE TO $500…

AND WAIVES IT ENTIRELY FOR COUPLES WHO COMPLETE MARRIAGE EDUCATION

It amends marriage license laws such that a marriage license be treated as any other license and held to a minimal level of required education - in this case "held" meaning cost prohibitive not to do - administered by a variety of independent 3rd party providers with the freedom to teach per their respective ideologies. Seven states already see the value of marriage education and offer a discount on the license fee if marriage education is completed, however, in as much as the average marriage license fee is $49, a discount is not persuasive.

MARRIAGE RATES ARE AT AN ALL-TIME LOW AND TRENDING LOWER!

While there are vast amounts of people not getting married, in part because of the failure rate over the past forty years, there are still plenty getting married. If they become a more successful group, then more people will want to become a part of this group again. It’s akin to repopulating a species on the brink of extinction rather than letting it become extinct. Whether marriage exists for your children or grandchildren years from now depends on what we do now! Names – votes – are what elected officials listen to!

I DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT INVOLVED IN MARRIAGE!

Although marriage should be a private matter, it is in fact a matter of public policy as the government is intimately involved in over half of all marriages – through divorce - and at tremendous cost to taxpayers! Government is also intimately involved in the breakup of unmarried couples with children and these relationships dissolve at even higher rates. While The Marriage Education Act can add a step to the process of getting married, through doing what adults teach their kids to do to succeed – get an education - the government will ultimately become less involved in marriage, less kids and parents will experience divorce, and marriage itself will survive and prosper.

WATCH EXCITING PRESS COVERAGE - SEE CONTEXT BELOW

We had explored the idea of a ballot initiative and as 2014 began, while many resolved to go the gym, we tried in Colorado because their process provided the most efficient path. Upon taking the first step of a long difficult process, The Denver Post ran a story, and from KAD’s perspective; a portion of the factual substance of the article was inaccurate. This gained the attention of national news outlets and set off a wave of coverage, which despite a clear understanding of details, affirmed the problem and showed continued dialogue can yield a strengthening of marriage. As is not uncommon, the initiative was withdrawn with the hope to try again with lessons learned. We tried anew in 2016, and once more did not get far. Not quitting is a cornerstone of who we are, and so we are not quitting!

WE'RE GOING FORWARD AS A PETITION RATHER THAN A BALLOT MEASURE

WE'RE ALSO NOW PROPOSING A VOLUNTARY RATHER THAN MANDATORY SYSTEM.

SIGN THE PETITION

Sign up to show your support for asking state legislators to address a problem affecting over half our nation's children and help marriage thrive by raising the marriage license fee to $500 as well as offering a waiver of the entire fee for couples who complete 8 hours of marriage education prior to wedding as well as offer tax credits for married couples who participate in continuing education.

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VOTE FOR COUPLES TO GET AN EDUCATION BEFORE GETTING A LICENSE!

We have a big presidential election coming up. Let’s address an issue that affects over half our nation’s children! Please learn more about The Marriage Education Act and sign our petition now so that we can send lots of signatures to our legislators and be heard on this very important issue!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ACT

TELL ME ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS?

Each spouse must complete a minimum of 8 hours of marriage education.

Courses can be taken in a classroom/ lecture, through self-study, or online.

Extensions of time would be granted for a military deployment or a medically necessary situation.

Re-marrying widows are considered a first marriage as they will likely be marrying in a different season of life and will also be an asset to a class.

A tax credit would be given for married couples voluntarily completing continuing education!

WHO WILL TEACH THE COURSE?

3rd party providers such as Faith-Based organizations and institutions as well as other ideologically differing non-profit organizations - based on a State Board of Marriage and Family Therapists developing and maintaining a course approval process as well as a process to limit the cost to consumers.

3rd party providers would scholarship education for people who can’t afford the course fee.

The State Board would contract with their states private Association of Marriage & Family Therapists to develop and maintain a broadly outlined core curriculum addressing everyday marriage issues including money, health, family, communication, intimacy, unmet expectations, conflict resolution, domestic violence, and the effects of divorce on children and adults. Course providers can freely teach as well as add to the curriculum. Only attendance will be graded.

The state is essentially a facilitator / middleman to private education.

WHAT WILL THIS COST TAXPAYERS?

In as much as 3rd party course providers would pay the state a fee for course approval as well as scholarship those who can’t afford the course fee, it is estimated there will be no extra cost to the state.

FULL SEGMENTS OF NEWS COVERAGE:

See full versions of the news coverage segments including those from The Today Show and NBC Knoxville.

BENEFITS OF THE ACT

HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT ADULTS?

The MEA will better prepare couples for success. With the divorce rate for 1st marriages 50%, for 2nd marriages 67% and for 3rd marriages 73%, people are scared to get married – and they want to do it right if they do. By making changes on the front end of marriage, we can prevent the lifelong effects of divorce on the back end.

HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT CHILDREN?

As it stands today, children of divorce have higher rates of drug & alcohol use, depression, anxiety, teen pregnancy, and teen suicide. The MEA can only lessen these incidences and if it prevents one child from experiencing the tragic event of his/her family being split apart, it is worth it.

HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT TAXPAYERS?

It is further estimated the MEA will reduce the number of divorces thus reducing taxpayer cost of family fragmentation which is estimated to be $112 to $150 Billion dollars each year for filed dissolutions, domestic violence, the cost of broken families financially supported by the state, and all other current government spending on marriage programs.

HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT AMERICA?

With its guiding principle that education is the key to success in everything, the MEA would amend marriage license laws such that a marriage license be treated as any other license and held to a minimal level of required education so as to better prepare individuals going into a marriage to fulfill their new roles as spouse and potentially as parent, to furthermore protect children given that marriage is the foundation of a family unit, and to reduce the billions of dollars taxpayers spend annually on divorce.

SIGN THE PETITION

Sign up to show your support for asking state legislators to address a problem affecting over half our nation's children and help marriage thrive by raising marriage license fees to $500 as well as offering a waiver of the entire fee for couples who complete 8 hours of marriage education prior to wedding as well as offer tax credits for married couples who participate in continuing education.

We respect your privacy