A covenant marriage is a type of marriage that is only available in Arizona, Arkansas, and Louisiana. In a covenant marriage the spouses promise that (1) they will participate in marriage counseling before filing for divorce; (2) agree to a longer waiting period before the divorce can be finalized; and (3) must allege fault grounds for the divorce (cannot seek a divorce on no-fault grounds such as irreconcilable differences).

Laws vary among states that recognize covenant marriages, but in a covenant marriage a spouse seeking a divorce generally must allege fault grounds such as:

• Adultery by the other spouse;

• Commission of a felony by the other spouse and sentence of imprisonment at hard labor or death;

• Abandonment by the other spouse for one year;

• Physical or sexual abuse of the spouse or of a child of either spouse; or

• The spouses have lived separate and apart for two years; or the spouses are judicially or legally separated and have lived separate and apart since the legal separation for (a) one year and six months if there is a minor child or children of the marriage; (b) one year if the separation was granted for abuse of a child of either spouse; or (c) one year in all other cases.

Vermont does not recognize covenant marriages, which are a special type of marriage available only in Arizona, Arkansas, and Louisiana. In Vermont, marriage is governed by state statutes that do not include provisions for covenant marriage. Couples in Vermont can seek a divorce without the need for marriage counseling, extended waiting periods, or alleging fault grounds. Vermont allows for no-fault divorces, where a spouse can file for divorce citing irreconcilable differences without the need to prove fault. Therefore, the specific requirements and fault grounds associated with covenant marriages, such as adultery, felony conviction, abandonment, abuse, or living separately for a certain period, are not applicable within the context of Vermont's marriage laws.