Family Living
Sam, Sarah, Dakota, Morgan
Prohibited Relationships
Consanguineous marriages- marriages of people related by blood, can result in defective children. Most states prohibit this.
Marriages between 1st and 2nd cousins are also prohibited.
Marriages of affinity= marriages of people related by marriage
Common-law Marriages
Couples are not yet bound by law, they simply started living together. This is valid in some states.
This happens because the couple doesn't want to wait for a judge or minister to marry them.
Property and inheritance rights apply as legal marriage, and children of the couple are legitimate.
The Marriage Officiate
Officiate- the person who can legally marry a couple
Civil weddings- may be performed by certain judicial officials, and in some states, by certain public officials. Chosen by people who want to elope.
Ceremonial wedding- Go with customs. Church, pastor, cake, bouquet, the whole nine yards!
Changing Your Name
Custom, not a law.
Most women take the the last name of their husband.
You could also hyphen your last name as well. Example: Sarah Wille- McGraw
Weddings
- Signifies the start of a couple's life together
- Announces the marriage to the public
- Satisfies the legal requirements of the state