The Principles and Canada's 'Beyond Conjugality' Report: The Move Toward Abolition of State Marriage Laws

Abstract:     
This Chapter evaluates two law reform initiatives in North America: the PRINCIPLES and the 2001 Canadian Law Commission's report entitled "Beyond Conjugality: Recognizing and Supporting Close Personal Relationships" ("Beyond Conjugality"). The PRINCIPLES move "away from the idea that there can be public standards guiding marriage and par­enthood. Instead it says that the central purpose of family law should be to protect and promote family diversity." In particular, the PRINCIPLES introduce rules pertaining to pre-marital agreements and domestic partnerships that undermine the very essence of marriage and present it as one of many equally valid family forms.

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