Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) marriage, socially sanctioned union that reproduces the family. In all societies the choice of partners is generally guided by rules of exogamy (the obligation to marry outside a group); some societie...

(Encyclopedia) nullity of marriage, in law, an unlawful marriage that is either void or voidable because of conditions existing at the time of the marriage. A bigamous or incestuous marriage, for example, is void, a...

(Encyclopedia) annulment of marriage: see nullity of marriage. ...

(Encyclopedia) common-law marriage: see under husband and wife. ...

(Encyclopedia) husband and wife, the legal aspects of the married state (for the sociological aspects, see marriage). The former Anglo-American law of marriage was chiefly characterized by the view that husband an...

(Encyclopedia) levirate: see marriage.

(Encyclopedia) monogamy: see marriage.

(Encyclopedia) sororate: see marriage.

(Encyclopedia) polyandry: see marriage.

(Encyclopedia) polygamy: see marriage.