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Abstract
This study explored the concept of renewable marriage contracts as a promising legal reform to address the challenges of traditional marriage and divorce systems, with a focus on the Nigerian context. Traditional views of marriage as a lifelong and
irrevocable commitment are increasingly questioned due to rising divorce rates and changing social values. Renewable marriage contracts offer a flexible fixed-term arrangement allowing couples to periodically reassess and renew their marital commitments, thus reducing the social, emotional, and economic costs of divorce. This study critically examines the legal principles underpinning this model and its compatibility with existing family laws. In Nigeria, the single most populous country in Africa, marriage is culturally and religiously regarded as sacred and permanent, with divorce carrying stigmatization and significant procedural burdens, especially for women. Despite this, increasing marital incompatibility and domestic violence highlight the need for alternative frameworks. The research utilizes doctrinal, comparative, and socio-legal analysis to evaluate the feasibility, benefits, and
challenges of renewable marriage contracts in Nigeria
irrevocable commitment are increasingly questioned due to rising divorce rates and changing social values. Renewable marriage contracts offer a flexible fixed-term arrangement allowing couples to periodically reassess and renew their marital commitments, thus reducing the social, emotional, and economic costs of divorce. This study critically examines the legal principles underpinning this model and its compatibility with existing family laws. In Nigeria, the single most populous country in Africa, marriage is culturally and religiously regarded as sacred and permanent, with divorce carrying stigmatization and significant procedural burdens, especially for women. Despite this, increasing marital incompatibility and domestic violence highlight the need for alternative frameworks. The research utilizes doctrinal, comparative, and socio-legal analysis to evaluate the feasibility, benefits, and
challenges of renewable marriage contracts in Nigeria
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