{
  "urn": "urn:us-la:rs:9:272",
  "title_number": "9",
  "section_number": "272",
  "citation": "R.S. 9:272",
  "heading": "Covenant marriage; intent; conditions to create",
  "text": "A. A covenant marriage is a marriage entered into by one male and one female who understand and agree that the marriage between them is a lifelong relationship. Parties to a covenant marriage have received counseling emphasizing the nature and purposes of marriage and the responsibilities thereto. Only when there has been a complete and total breach of the marital covenant commitment may the non-breaching party seek a declaration that the marriage is no longer legally recognized.\n\nB. A man and woman may contract a covenant marriage by declaring their intent to do so on their application for a marriage license, as provided in R.S. 9:224(C), and executing a declaration of intent to contract a covenant marriage, as provided in R.S. 9:273. The application for a marriage license and the declaration of intent shall be filed with the official who issues the marriage license.\n\nC. A covenant marriage terminates only for one of the causes enumerated in Civil Code Article 101. A covenant marriage may be terminated by divorce only upon one of the exclusive grounds enumerated in R.S. 9:307. A covenant marriage agreement may not be dissolved, rescinded, or otherwise terminated by the mutual consent of the spouses.",
  "status": "active",
  "hierarchy_path": [
    {
      "level": "title",
      "number": "9",
      "name": "CIVIL CODE--ANCILLARIES"
    },
    {
      "level": "code_preliminary_title",
      "number": "1",
      "name": "[BLANK]"
    },
    {
      "level": "code_book",
      "number": "I",
      "name": "OF PERSONS"
    },
    {
      "level": "code_title",
      "number": "IV",
      "name": "HUSBAND AND WIFE"
    },
    {
      "level": "chapter",
      "number": "1",
      "name": "MARRIAGE: GENERAL PRINCIPLES"
    },
    {
      "level": "part",
      "number": "VII",
      "name": "COVENANT MARRIAGE"
    }
  ],
  "breadcrumb": "Title 9 › Code Preliminary Title › Code Book I › Code Title IV › Chapter 1 › Part VII",
  "acts_citations": [
    {
      "act_year": 1997,
      "act_number": 1380,
      "section": 3,
      "effective_date": null,
      "effective_date_raw": null,
      "role": "enactment"
    },
    {
      "act_year": 2006,
      "act_number": 249,
      "section": 1,
      "effective_date": null,
      "effective_date_raw": null,
      "role": "amendment"
    }
  ],
  "acts_citations_raw": "Acts 1997, No. 1380, §3; Acts 2006, No. 249, §1.",
  "source_url": "https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=107157",
  "website_law_id": 107157,
  "scrape_timestamp": "2026-05-22T23:55:19Z",
  "source_html_hash": "sha256:c1fb79d10a16d55e1f337e16d1fc48d060fa04b25158c5b1e8439cf505eb61be",
  "schema_version": "1.0.0"
}