Laws, whether they are relevant today or not, served a purpose at one point in time in our country. For instance, at one point it was perfectly necessary for Colorado to establish a law that expressly prohibited anyone under the age of 16 from playing pinball after 11 pm. When Texas created a law barring 'obnoxious odors from being emitted in elevators,' they probably had good reason to do so. As funny and wacky as old laws are now, it would be ridiculous if someone was actually arrested today for something as innocent as playing pinball or stinking up an elevator. Yet, several states have yet to revise their law books, making many crazy old laws still enforceable.

The New Year is about commemorating the old and welcoming in the new, so our team at the Law Offices of Stephen Clark thought that it might be a good time to reminisce on 13 outdated marriage laws that may be wacky, but that are still enforceable today.

13 Outdated Marriage Laws You are Most Likely Breaking

Everyone knows that what they post on social media can be used against them in divorce court, but not many people are aware that the same can be said for what is taken off of social media. Though there may come a time when you regret posting something online and want to delete it, if you are going through a divorce, think twice before doing so. The mere act of deleting a post from social media could be used against you as evidence in divorce court. At the Clark Law Group, our Dallas divorce attorneys will guide you on how to proceed throughout the divorce process to make sure that you do not do anything to unwittingly compromise your case.

'Spoliation' of Evidence

Spoliation is defined as the 'intentional alteration or destruction of a document' that could have been used as evidence in litigation. Spoliation is illegal in that by destroying a document, you are essentially depriving the involved parties and the court of information that could have potentially swayed the outcome of the case. As social media continues to play a bigger and bigger role in our lives, its role in litigation has become increasingly important as well. Because of this, courts have come to view the deletion of posts and messages as spoliation, an action that may be punished in accordance with state law.

In the episode following the famous Friends episode in which Ross and Rachel get married, Ross says that he does not want to be 'the guy with three divorces.' Instead, he and Rachel seek an annulment. After the judge hears their case, however, he denies them an annulment and tells them that their only option for separation is divorce.

Generally speaking, an annulment will only be granted under specific circumstances. Those circumstances vary from state to state, and while one reason for an annulment may be acceptable in, say, California, it may not be acceptable in Texas. If you and your spouse want to pursue an annulment in Dallas rather than a full-blown divorce, it may be in your best interest to consult with a Dallas family law attorney before taking any further legal steps. An experienced lawyer can evaluate the circumstances of your marriage and impending separation and help you determine whether or not an annulment is in the cards for you.

General Grounds for Annulment

At risk of sounding cliché, divorce is never easy, especially when there are children involved. Divorcing when there are children is one of the most difficult things a parent will ever go through, as not only are they forced to let their children know that Mommy and Daddy will no longer be living together, but also, they will have to 'share' their time with the other parent. This means they will not get to see their child X days out of the year, that every other Christmas morning will be spent at the other parent's house, and that there may come a time when another mother or father figure will step in to co-parent. All that is just the tip of the iceberg. However, for some parents, divorce is much more difficult than for others, such as for the stay-at-home parent.

The 'Displaced Parent' Phenomenon

Due to several factors-most of them monetary-couples often choose to have one parent stay at home with the children while the other one goes to work full time. This arrangement not only makes sense from a financial standpoint, but it also makes sense from a familial standpoint. The couple can save money on childcare costs and while the working parent is in the office, the stay-at-home parent can take care of all those other pesky obligations that come with running a home and family, such as grocery shopping, cleaning, paying bills, and other home maintenance chores. When the workweek is over, the family can spend quality time together instead of worrying about what needs to be done in the short amount of free time they do have.

Some marriages end amicably, while others necessitate court intervention in order to keep one party safe from the other.

When an individual does not take the prospect of divorce very well, he or she may resort to criminal behavior such as stalking, domestic violence, or harassment. When this occurs, the Texas courts issue a 'no-contact' order-otherwise known as a protective order-which prohibits the unreasonable individual from having physical or verbal contact with his or her former spouse and children.

The no-contact order specifies at what distance the defendant must remain from the victim, and expressly states that if violated for any reason, the defendant will receive a hefty fine, possible jail time, and a charge of a felony or misdemeanor.