What are we to think about marriage nowadays with all the numbnuts out there screwing it up—I must say elite/celebrity divorce lawyers must have their pockets lined with gold, when I look at today’s headlines.
The particular “numbnut” that comes to mind is Mark Sanford, the Governor of South Carolina. Governor Sanford confessed to adultery after his so called “hike” on the Appalachian trail when he was really “hiking it up” in Argentina.
One of the best posts I’ve read on this subject is Law.com’s Wednesday’s Three Burning Legal Questions. Question 3 states: “I expressly refused in my wedding vows, and insisted that the clause to promise to be “faithful” be removed from the ceremony. I can now “hike the Appalachian trail” with impunity, right? The Answer: You may have broken new ground here. Further research is required. For the moment, you have stumped the blawgosphere.”
Call me crazy, but you may want to rethink getting married to someone who expressly states that he wants to remove the vow to be “faithful”. I guess this gives him license to cheat?? Now that I have permission, if you will, I get a special dispensation from fidelity. Who knew that was an option?!!!
The Wife finds out…..
According to an interview with Barbara Walters, Mrs. Sanford said she found a letter in her husband’s desk that made it clear to her that he was “having a sexual relationship” with 43-year-old Argentine businesswoman Maria Belen Chapur. (The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009″ on ABC).
Sanford said she gave her husband a chance to explain himself and decided to keep the affair a secret, contingent upon his promises to end his relationship and change.
During the in-depth interview, Mrs. Sanford stated the governor pleaded with her to stay with him, but also begged for permission to visit Chapur, whom he called his “soul mate.”
“He said, ‘Why, why can’t you just give me permission?’ I said, ‘Well, why would I give you permission? I mean, who, who gives their spouse permission to go see their lover?’”
But wait the story gets worse—she ACTUALLY GAVE HIM PERMISSION (loose screws) to see Chapur as long as he promised that it would be the last time. Governor Sanford then flew to New York with a friend to see Chapur, promising it would be the last time he saw her.
Did she ask for it??? Well-maybe not, but she certainly enabled it.
Let’s just take a look at some of the legal implications. There’s divorce, spousal support or alimony, and child support just to name a few — but wait, he did expressly ask to alter the marital vows by removing the promise to be faithful – so was Mrs. Sanford given a heads up??? Perhaps some legal genius can create some wiggle room for this guy. One never knows.
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