LANSING, MI (MPRN)-- The Michigan Court of Appeals says a commitment ceremony does not equal a marriage.
An ex-husband sued to end an expensive spousal support order after his ex-wife invited family and friends to a commitment ceremony with her new partner. He said that is effectively a marriage, and he should be allowed to stop making support payments.
The ex-husband won in a lower court. But the appeals court reversed the decision, and said a marriage in Michigan requires a ceremony, witnesses, and a certificate filed with a county clerk.
Kevin Gentry is the ex-wife’s attorney.
“Michigan law is very clear on what a marriage is, and if it’s not that, it’s not a marriage.”
Gentry says the divorce settlement was carefully negotiated, and everybody agreed to it.
As the losing party, the ex-husband could appeal the decision to the Michigan Supreme Court.