This bill amends various sections of the North Dakota Century Code to modernize the legal definitions and language surrounding marriage and marital relationships. A significant change is the replacement of gender-specific terms such as "husband" and "wife" with more inclusive language, referring to "two individuals married to each other." The definition of marriage is revised to reflect this inclusive approach, and the term "spouse" is defined as "an individual who is one of two individuals married to each other." The bill also clarifies the mutual obligations and rights of spouses, including the use of necessary force to protect oneself or one's spouse, and addresses various legal aspects such as adoption rights and property rights.

Furthermore, the bill removes outdated provisions that only recognized marriages between a man and a woman, aligning North Dakota law with contemporary understandings of marriage. It specifies that a decree of separation does not terminate the marital status of spouses and requires joint execution of certain legal documents related to property and homestead conveyance. The bill also ensures that individuals who have divorced or annulled their marriage are not considered surviving spouses unless they remarry the decedent. Overall, these amendments aim to create a more equitable and modern legal framework for all marital relationships in the state.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 12.1-23-09, 14-02-07, 14-03-01, 14-03-08, 14-05-06, 14-05-18, 14-07-01, 14-07-03, 14-07-04, 14-07-06, 14-07-07, 14-07-08, 14-07-12, 14-07-13, 14-07-14, 14-12.2-28, 14-14.1-30, 14-15-03, 14-15-20, 14-18-05, 14-18-08, 20.1-03-06, 30.1-10-02, 30.1-10-04, 35-01-04, 47-18-04, 47-18-05, 47-18-14, 50-25.1-10, 54-52.4-02, 57-38-31, 57-40.3-04, 57-40.3-07, 57-40.5-03