This often leads to insults and arguments (and has even led to physical violence) though the couples also often use the time to reconcile and talk about what they have learned.

In early 2004, ABC announced an American version of the British show Wife Swap, to be called Trading Moms, having outbid Fox Network for the rights for the format in the U.S.[10] In June the same year, Fox publicized a program with an almost identical format to Wife Swap entitled Trading Spouses, which it began broadcasting on July 1.

In December 2004, RDF Media sued Fox for copyright infringement for reproducing the Wife Swap format without their permission.

[13] In November 2005, series participant Jeffrey Bedford sued ABC for over $10 million for trading his wife for a gay man.

[8][14] He accused ABC of being dishonest, not allowing him contact with his wife and making him miss his lessons at college.

[17] In March 2010, Alicia Guastaferro sued ABC for $100 million, claiming that her appearance and depiction on a 2008 episode of Wife Swap led to her public embarrassment and that she suffered from panic attacks and suicidal tendencies as a result.

The Felix' husband Jeremy admitted to using racial slurs, leading to an angry confrontation with the Wiggins' wife Neicey.

[23] An episode taped in 2005 featuring the Panagiotakis family was halted mid-production due to the father, Yanni, being arrested and charged with hitting his 13-year-old daughter in the face.

However, it was determined by state officials that the unorthodox diet did not amount to child abuse, and that the parents had filed paperwork proving competent homeschooling.

[26] In 2009, a San Francisco contestant named Stephen Fowler became the target of heavy online criticism for his disparaging attitude toward his substitute wife, Gayla Long.

Fowler belittled Long throughout the show, calling her "uneducated, over-opinionated, and overweight" and a "dumb redneck", among other insults.

[28] Lynn left the Spolansky household early due to the disrespect she felt she was getting from Jodi's husband Steven.

The couples later appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, where Steven apologized and offered to do a day of Lynn's wood chopping duties.

After the episode aired, Holland became very recognizable and had even been approached to film a reality show as well as advertise for a bacon company, both of which did not work out.

Gina checked into a hotel room and called her husband John, telling him "We’re definitely dealing with dark forces here".