What's the difference between living together and being married?

Question

Grovermint · Accepted Answer

Quite a bit. Marriage requirements vary, usually include a license, a waiting period, and minimum ages. Some, even a blood test. A marriage ceremony is officiated either by a member of clergy or an officer of the court and has witnesses.

Cohabitation can start at any time, by people of any age and any gender, with no formality.

Marriage ends with a formal, legal divorce or annulment process. It can be costly, time-consuming, complicated, and emotionally draining.

Cohabitation can usually end simply.

In a divorce, spouses must divide their property by legally prescribed methods.

At the end of a cohabitation relationship, the unmarried partners can usually divide property however they wish.

Often times, a spouse that earns more may have to pay financial support for the other spouse upon separation or divorce.

Couples who live together and then split up aren't required to support each other after the break-up unless they have a contract that says otherwise.

If one spouse becomes ill or incompetent, the other spouse has the right to make decisions on the ill spouse's behalf on issues like health care and finances.

A cohabitant will have to leave it to immediate family to make decisions for their infirm partner unless granted power of attorney.

When one spouse dies, the other spouse has the legal right to inherit a part or all of spouse's estate.
When one cohabitant dies, their property will pass to whoever is named in their will. If there is no will, to family members according to state laws. The surviving partner has no claim to the estate unless they are named in the deceased partner's will.
Children born during the marriage are presumed to be the offspring of the husband and wife.

The father of a child born to unmarried cohabitants may have to establish their paternity through blood tests and legal action.
Children born to married couples must be financially supported during the marriage.
The male in a cohabitating partnership doesn't have an obligation to support children born during the cohabitation unless paternity is established or they request to do so.
In either case, the non-custodial parent generally is legally obligated to help financially support the children if parentage has been established (automatically if their married).

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Back when Marriage still existed, the formal union was about commitment and security for both partners.

Now with redefinition to be about feelings and no-fault divorce your right there really isn't too much of a difference anymore because 'marriage' really doesn't exist anymore among such people.

Vesuvius87 · Accepted Answer

Married (the real concept of what commitment was in the past):

You've said and signed your vows, shared assets, they can make health decisions for you if you're even in an accident, you can't just break-up every single time you have an argument unless (otherwise, why the hell did you get married). This ISN'T a person you're just dating and can home late at whatever time you want to or waste money on going to trips and the movies too much; this is your life partner you're bond with in not just words but by legal contract and publically... and you have responsibilities.

Living together (sugarcoated as forever fuck buddies):

It's a worthless temporarily trial period. There is no benefits of us to do this cohabitation. The same negative feeling several men have lately towards marriage is the same exact way some of us woman feel about living together. It's usually a trap to get the woman's hopes that it'll one day lead towards commitment, he can BS by lovebombing her and more worthless words of how just being boyfriend and girlfriend is total commitment, lol. Then he can always have one foot out the door, break up easily if there are a couple arguments... while we wasted our years for nothing. They only want the benefits of the relationship, the prolonged infatuation period, the good things but not the hardships, the flaws, etc. Finally they CAN'T make any medical health decisions for you if you're involved in an accident.

Anemone978 · Accepted Answer

When you are married you are in contract that is hard to get out of so they should be with you for the long haul  When you are living together they just like your company.. for now..

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Living together: you know that if you get mad, you can pack up your stuff, move out, and it's over. That simple, that quick, without pausing to reflect on what you are doing.

Married: you know that if you get mad, you CAN'T just pack up your stuff, move out, and it's over. Because it's not that simple or quick, you will have no choice but to reflect on what you are doing before you pass the point of no return.

Finchie40 · Answer

Living together means you are just room mates , being married means you are in a committed relationship with each other and standing by each others side to make love grow between you both , You are choosing that person to be your team partner hopefully the same way they are choosing you as well.

serious · Answer

Not much difference but then breaking a live in relationship is easy but breaking a marriage can be tough (in legal terms).

LaFemmeFatale_1 · Answer

I don’t see much difference. In my mind my ex and I were married already, because we lived like a married couple.

Anonymous · Answer

Married – you are official. Living together – you could be roommates. Meaningless.

Anonymous · Answer

the government is involved in your relationship. he has bad credit? well now you have bad credit! he has debt? now you have debt! and then all of the paperwork and a stupid ring on your finger.

Fireguy17 · Answer

all of the legal stuff. If 1 partner passes it can be a nightmare getting stuff sorted out.

Unit1 · Answer

These 2 videos sum it up

Anonymous · Answer

You can leave the relationship when you're living together. Harder to leave when you're married

nastyb · Answer

its really sad how people nowadays don't even know the difference between room mating and marriage. Really sad... It really devalues the concept of marriage.

HaveNoName · Answer

As this question can only be answered correctly in light of the respective religious beliefs, and since majorty here gets a diarrhea accepting any religous idea, any correct answer would be rejected or argued upon. So... PASS.

YesterdaysChild · Answer

I'm sure you already know the difference so why are you asking this?

gothbxtch · Answer

if you’re married, you’ve signed a marriage certificate and maybe had a wedding

Anonymous · Answer

A marriage license. And the idea of being married is more romantic, but sometimes (like with my parents marriage) the reality doesn’t live up to it.

exitseven · Answer

When you break up you don't get half of everything.

msc545 · Answer

The potential for losing all your property, and alimony.

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

You shouldn't be living together before marriage...

Aiko_E_Lara · Answer

Being married means the government is interfering with your life. Just living together means no government is interfering with your life.

captain_voidwalker · Answer

Getting to keep half my stuff from avoiding divorce

RyanK9b · Answer

The ring on your finger and the oath you gave. But mostly ignored by the majority

Anonymous · Answer

Live in = hiring private prostitute without paying money.

Anonymous · Answer

Let me know 1st Are u asking the difference between them in life or in Religions?

abc3643 · Answer

A lot of legally important stuff. A LOT

whistlingwh0res · Answer

Same just a paper

Anonymous · Answer

The marriage certificate.

Subflics · Answer

One situation she has all the power

Vegasrunner · Answer

Government interference

In_Trance · Answer

Segregation controlled by the Church and State

jahaims · Answer

Legality

Static_In_The_Attic · Answer

Happiness!

EaterPeter · Answer

Less or no sex

What's the difference between living together and being married?

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What's the difference between living together and being married?

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