Other divorces?

[canada]

Divorce = A divorce is a formal ending of a marriage by law.

So people are allowed to separate legally from their partners, but I wonder why people are not allowed to separate legally from other close relatives such as aunts, cousins or uncles. My questions are:

1) Are there other formal endings by law of the rest of relatives?
2) Why is divorce only applicable to a marriage? Why is divorcing other family relations is prohibited?

 

[Furcifer]

1) Are there other formal endings by law of the rest of relatives?
2) Why is divorce only applicable to a marriage? Why is divorcing other family relations is prohibited?

1) emancipation
2) taxes. There's no legal ramifications so there's no need to formally separate from family.

That's all I could think of.

 

[Cavemonster]

2) Because legal divorce is the legal undoing of the legal contract between two people.

When you are married in the eyes of the law, there is a legal framework of benefits and responsibilities. You have no such legal relationship with your aunts, cousins etc. so no legal process is necessary.

The only familial relationship that does come with legal obligations is the parent/legal guardian of a minor, and that can be severed legally.

 

[Dorian Gray]

Divorce = A divorce is a formal ending of a marriage by law.

So people are allowed to separate legally from their partners, but I wonder why people are not allowed to separate legally from other close relatives such as aunts, cousins or uncles. My questions are:

1) Are there other formal endings by law of the rest of relatives?
2) Why is divorce only applicable to a marriage? Why is divorcing other family relations is prohibited?

Marriage is entered into voluntarily, while the other relationships you mentioned are entered into by default. You can thus end the relationship with a spouse, making them no longer your spouse, but you cannot end the blood relationship with your blood relatives. The most you can do is legally remove their responsibility to you, and physically separate yourself from them.

To answer your second question, they're opposites.

 

[Fnord]

I can "disown" a relative by ignoring him or her, by not writing him or her into my will, or by posting one of those ads that say "As of this date, I will no longer be responsible for any actions or debts other than my own".

Very informal, and perhaps not legally binding in all cases, but it can be done.