I don’t think they should have expiration dates. If the couple no longer wants to be married, divorce is an option. I don’t think we should have to pay to renew our marriage on a regular basis when it was a decision we made based on being together for the long term. Yes, marriages fail sometimes, but setting up a system where they are only good for ‘x’ number of years just seems like setting up a system for them to end much more often.
Would the couple have to have a ceremony every year or so to renew their vows along with their marriage license? The marriage license is only one part of the actual marriage ceremony. Officials (be it Justice of the Peace or the church clergyman) charge fees to perform the services as well. Putting an expiration date on their marriage license seems like you would also be putting an expiration date on their vows.
What about the effects this could have on families? If people go into marriage with the mindset of “hey, it’s only for two years, we’ll see what happens”, it just seems to set people up for not having lasting marriages. That’s not the mindset I would want for my husband and certainly not the mindset people should be having when considering starting to have children together.
@Charles As for your theory that renewing for seven years would be cheaper than getting a divorce, my divorce only cost $75 (my ex-husband walked out and didn’t contest the divorce). My marriage license (and the fee for the official that performed the ceremony) was more than that and if the renewal was the same as the initial fee, it would end up being a lot more than my divorce was (based on the 7 year example you gave above).