His spouse could do nothing about it. This is the case in most divorces. According to family scholars Frank Furstenberg and Andrew Chering, four out of five divorces occur despite the objections of one partner. In a covenant marriage agreement, however, grounds for divorce are more strict. Perhaps the strongest requirement under covenant marriage law, though, is the requirement that couples seek help through counseling with either religious or secular mediators before proceeding with divorce plans.
Studies show that couples who undergo counseling are more likely to save their marriages.
Psychology professor Howard Markman has summarized 17 studies of the impact of counseling on marital satisfaction. He found that nearly three out of four distressed couples who got help reported significant improvement in their relationships. A final benefit of a covenant marriage law is that its availability will cause couples to think more seriously about what they re getting ready to do. As Louisiana state representative Tony Perkins, the legislation s sponsor, said, Some couples may have their first and last argument over which type of marriage to choose. Agreement to the special provision signifies to the couple themselves, and to the culture at large that marriage is an honored institution that is to be permanent.