Page 60 - The Circle of Life

I assure you though that our courts are conservative and unless you can prove

that it is in your best interests or your parents unreasonable (read very
unreasonable) this will not be given willy nilly. In case you carry on regardless
the marriage may be dissolved afterwards but we will speak about that under

divorce later on.

So what happens when a minor promises to marry when she is of age to do so
and when she comes of age she refuses? In law all promises to marry made by

minors are voidable at the option of the minor meaning she can decide if she
wants to go forward with the marriage or not. Bizarrely enough a minor may sue

on such a promise but may not be sued. She may even make a new promise to
someone else and that is the way it will be.

Being pregnant is no reason in law or otherwise to get married but it was not

always like this and in some cultures that would be enough reason for a
marriage. It was a practical problem for under Roman law an illegitimate child

could not inherit nor be entitled to his father's name. This meant wars in the old
days as the Kings' illegitimate offspring decided to take fight for their inheritance

as happened often in history causing civil wars and worse. These people were
called "bastards" and at one stage were seen as that even if the parents married

afterwards. Under equality of the law I am glad to say this is something of the
past in most countries. Unfortunately the child and his mom may still be treated

like something akin to satan by the community. We tend to throw stones quite
quickly and it is very wrong.

You simply cannot in law be engaged to more than one woman at the same time
or whilst you are already married. This will be in all countries which do not

support bigamous relationships. In effect the second marriage or engagement is

void under law but then the universal law of partnership comes in and we will
look at that in some detail. It is the same as where you live together. It has far
reaching effects on your estate and is known as the common law wife principle.

Why it is so important to understand what is meant with an engagement

to be married?

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