Spouses communicative privilege is designed to protect intimacy and is generally waived by one spouse alone.

Spouses communicative privilege is designed to protect intimacy and is generally waived by one spouse alone.

• A. It can be waived by one spouse
• B. It applies to commercial communications
• C. It permits third-party disclosure
• D. It cannot be waived by one spouse alone

Answer: (D)

Spousal communications privilege protects confidential exchanges between spouses to preserve the intimacy of the marital relationship. It is a joint privilege, meaning both spouses share the right to maintain confidentiality, and one spouse cannot unilaterally waive it. To disclose such a communication in court, there must be mutual consent to waive the privilege; otherwise the disclosure is blocked. This protection does not extend to commercial communications and it does not permit third-party disclosure. If a third party was present during the communication, confidentiality is lost and the privilege cannot apply.

Spousal communications privilege protects confidential exchanges between spouses to preserve the intimacy of the marital relationship. It is a joint privilege, meaning both spouses share the right to maintain confidentiality, and one spouse cannot unilaterally waive it. To disclose such a communication in court, there must be mutual consent to waive the privilege; otherwise the disclosure is blocked. This protection does not extend to commercial communications and it does not permit third-party disclosure. If a third party was present during the communication, confidentiality is lost and the privilege cannot apply.