§ 970 [Spousal Testimonial Privilege Against Testifying]

If you are married, you have the right to refuse to testify against your husband or wife in court. This applies to any type of legal proceeding, whether it is a criminal trial, a civil case, or another type of hearing.

This protection exists to help keep marriages intact by not forcing spouses to say things in court that could hurt each other. However, the law does allow for some exceptions. Certain statutes can override this privilege, so there are situations where a married person may be required to testify against their spouse.