I Do; Now I Don't: The Marriage is Over

You read and hear about some celebrity couples getting married, and before the ink is dried on the marriage license, the union has ended in an annulment or a divorce. Sometimes you have to ask yourself were these people playing some kind of joke or were they just seeking publicity? No one wants to assume that anyone, in their right mind, would spend heaps of money on a wedding ceremony and reception, just to have their names in the spotlight. But then stranger things have been known to happen.

Marriage is the joining together of two people to form a committed relationship, and no one should ever step into an agreement like this on a whim. One should always think long and hard before taking that important step. You take an oath to be together in health and in sickness and until death do you part. However, many people seem to get amnesia when it comes to keeping these promises. If the husband forgets to put the toilet seat down during the honeymoon, the wife is ready to call it quits. If the wife snores louder than the sound of a herd of cows, the husband is ready to file for a divorce. Of course there are extreme circumstances when a mate should get out of a marriage at once, namely, if there's a hint of domestic abuse; the person neglected to divorce a former spouse, or you unknowingly marry someone who's a wanted criminal.

Getting out of a marriage can be costly and can sometimes be malicious. But there are some ways in which couples can be together without the benefit of a legal marriage, civil or religious. And we're not talking about living together. When the going gets rough, they can each go their separate ways, with no one getting hurt financially. There may be emotional scars, but the wounds will heal and shouldn't cost you a penny or force you into bankruptcy.

To get that "let's get married" idea out of your system, think about having a make believe or mock wedding. Invite relatives and close friends to be false witnesses. Go through the motion of saying: I'll love you for the rest of my life until I get tired of you or until something better or worse comes along. For your reception, invite your guests to a fast food restaurant, and for the honeymoon, go away to a movie, hold hands and kiss the night away. If an argument breaks out, and you can't stand each other any longer, it's good bye. Nothing lost; nothing gained.

Live together apart from each other. Have your own pad. There will be no mix-up as to which items belong to whom; what's hers is hers, and what's his is his. Having a joint account or concealing your money in an offshore account is not necessary. Each person will have their own money. When the love is gone, there will be no confusion as to who should move, and or how to split the household items. You won't need to hire an expensive lawyer to calculate how much of a settlement or spousal support a mate should receive. Everyone leaves the "marriage" happily ever after.