For many people this legal union has religious significance. In the eyes of the law, and as defined by most states, marriage is a civil contract between two individuals.
Marital status creates various legal rights, obligations and liabilities.
The laws of each individual state determine the specific financial and personal duties a married couple will have during their marriage and after separation or divorce. In some states, marriage will create ownership rights in property obtained both during and prior to the marriage. Divorce is the legal termination of a couple's marriage. Marital status can only be terminated by a court of law. In a divorce, a court declares the marriage contract broken.