USA Truck Driver Marriage and Divorce Law in Louisiana includes a legal option most other states don’t have: covenant marriage. This illustrative case from Baton Rouge shows how a CDL driver’s covenant marriage made his divorce process longer and ultimately shaped an $88,000 settlement.
Background: A Marriage With Stricter Terms
A CDL driver from Baton Rouge married in 2014 under a covenant marriage — a legal option unique to Louisiana (along with Arizona and Arkansas) where couples voluntarily agree to stricter requirements for divorce, including mandatory counseling before filing and limited, specific legal grounds for ending the marriage, compared to Louisiana’s standard “no-fault” divorce option.
Why Covenant Marriage Changed the Process
When the couple decided to separate in 2023 after years of strain from his long-haul schedule, they discovered that a covenant marriage can’t be ended through Louisiana’s simpler no-fault process. Instead, they needed to either complete a required separation period significantly longer than standard divorces, or establish specific fault-based grounds such as adultery or abandonment.
How the Case Proceeded
Because neither spouse wanted to pursue a fault-based filing, they were required to live separately for the extended period mandated under covenant marriage law before a divorce could be finalized — considerably longer than Louisiana’s standard divorce timeline. This extended timeline meant additional months of temporary support arrangements and continued shared financial obligations before the case could be resolved.
Property Division Under Louisiana Community Property Law
Once the waiting period concluded, Louisiana’s community property rules applied just as they would in a standard divorce — assets and income acquired during the marriage were generally considered equally owned by both spouses. The court divided his trucking income-related assets, retirement contributions, and the couple’s home equity under this even-split framework, similar to other community property states.
Final Settlement Breakdown
- $42,000 — division of home equity and marital property
- $26,000 — division of retirement contributions
- $20,000 — temporary spousal support accumulated during the extended mandatory separation period required under covenant marriage law
Total settlement: $88,000, with the extended waiting period adding significant temporary support costs beyond what a standard divorce timeline would have produced.
What CDL Drivers Can Learn From This Louisiana Case
- Covenant marriage significantly extends the divorce process. If you entered one, expect a longer timeline than Louisiana’s standard no-fault divorce option.
- Understand what type of marriage contract you signed. Some drivers don’t realize they entered a covenant marriage until they try to file for divorce years later.
- Temporary support adds up during long waiting periods. The longer a mandatory separation period runs, the more support obligations accumulate before a final settlement.
- Community property rules still apply once the marriage ends. Regardless of how long the process takes, Louisiana’s even-split default still governs how assets are divided.
If you’re a CDL driver in Louisiana considering divorce and you’re unsure whether you entered a standard or covenant marriage, checking your marriage license documentation early — and consulting a family law attorney — can help you understand which process applies to your situation.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed family law attorney in Louisiana for guidance specific to your situation.