For these children, love and marriage is something that they can only dream and hope for, not something that is theirs by right. Along a similar line to arranged marriages there are a number of people who take it upon themselves to facilitate the legal immigration of a person from outside a country by offering themselves for marriage. For the couple, the marriage proposal is the start of the wedding. It’s the catalyst that starts a chain of events, which will lead to one of the most stressful, yet treasured, days in a woman’s life. For this reason, if no other, it should be given a fitting setting – somewhere romantic, memorable, an intimate moment between two separate people about to embark on a life together. California marriage laws do not permit for common law marriages but do allow for proxy marriages (only for armed forces members) and same sex domestic partnerships in San Francisco and Marin counties. A California marriage license is valid for 90 days. Contact the clerk of the county you wish to marry. All About Marriage Contracts A marriage contract is a legally-binding document between two people. The people involved can be either about to be married or may already be married to each other. If you sign a document of this type before the wedding, it will take effect the day of the wedding. In the case of people who are already married, it will take effect immediately. How to Help Kids with Your Second Marriage A second marriage can be an exciting time, a period of lots of change and new roles and responsibilities. When kids are involved, it’s important for couples to take the time to learn about their needs and how the changes may be affecting them. Kids will slowly adjust to the changes, but they sometimes need assurance and encouragement to understand what is going on. Long ago, arranged marriages were performed so that one kingdom could become one with another. Keep money in the family and grow stronger or conquer other countries and kingdoms. Arranged marriages could’ve been decided at the birth of the child, the moment he/she was born a name was decided and that was whom they’d end up marrying.