Marriage and divorces were considered a private matter during the Anglo-Saxon times in England. In 1066, the legal status of a married woman was fixed by canon law. This means that the wife considered a part of the husband and the husband was the legal person. Once a man and a woman were married, all of the woman’s personal property was automatically owned by the husband. In return, the husband was obligated to support the wife and their children. This practice was carried to the United States until the middle of the nineteenth century.
In colonial America, divorce was also an extremely rare event. Divorce was rare because obtaining a divorce decree required legislative action which was costly and time consuming. Family Law and Divorce Law have changed dramatically over time. Now, in the 21st century, divorce and family related legal matters are a very common procedure.