One law student has a radical proposal for fixing marriage: Cut it off after four years

National Post ^ | August 9, 2014 | Sarah Boesveld and Tristan Hopper

[Loyalist]

Like many couples in their first months of courtship, Véronique Laliberté and Francys-Roch Bisson agreed to take things step by step.

For this Gatineau, Que., couple, this also meant line by line — in the form of a relationship contract. The agreement, they say, sets clear expectations around resources and fidelity, guarantees they not take their partnership for granted, and gives them an easy out should they wish to take it.

“We renewed after three months, we renewed after six months and now we have a contract for one year,” Ms. Laliberté told the National Post this week. “It’s working out pretty well — so far so good. We’re still together, we’re still in love and everything is fine.”

The early days of their relationship coincided with the start of Ms. Laliberté’s masters of law thesis at the University of Ottawa in which she has advocated a legal shakeup that would change the landscape of marriage forever in Canada: Fixed term marriage.

By her plan a fixed-term marriage would legally dissolve after four years, unless a couple visits a lawyer to renew it (a less expensive and onerous proposition than a divorce, she claims). A fixed contract might include a provision vowing not to blend finances and separate property fairly, and it would be something both parties can plan around, she said — no unexpected outbursts of ‘‘I want a divorce.’’ Think of it, Ms. Laliberté said, as a “legally governed trial period” that could lead to a lifelong contract.

[dfwgator]

“Cut it off after four years” That would certainly keep the man from cheating on his wife.

Worked for Lorena Bobbit.

[dsc]

“Why do people in college think they are the smartest people who ever lived in the last 6,000 years?”

If you can get somebody to believe that, you can get them to believe anything.

[RansomOttawa]

By her plan a fixed-term marriage would legally dissolve after four years, unless a couple visits a lawyer to renew it (a less expensive and onerous proposition than a divorce, she claims).

What a wonderful idea! For the lawyers.