Iowa May Reward Couples Who Do Marriage Counseling
Posted: 9:37 a.m. EDT April 21, 2004
Some Iowa lawmakers think they've found a way to cut the divorce rate.
The state Senate has passed a bill requiring couples to undergo 12 hours of premarital counseling or face longer waits for a marriage license.
The measure has been sent to the governor.
The bill would set a period of three days of waiting for a license with counseling -- and 20 days without it.
Supporters say it'll help strengthen marriages. But opponents say marriage is a religious matter that government has no business regulating.
Some other states also encourage counseling. Minnesota, for instance, charges $80 for a marriage license but only $20 for those who have had counseling.
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