What’s the difference between being married and boyfriend girlfriend who live together for several years?

[Anonymous]

[HighValue]

The only differences when married are, if they get divorced the woman can steal from the man, or if they stay together and he eventually dies when he is old she can get part of his retirement and/or his social security if it is higher than hers. Also, student loan debt becomes BOTH of their responsibility and if it isn't paid on time it would ruin BOTH people's credit ratings.

If they stay unmarried, their credit ratings stay separated so if they were ever financially down on their luck, one of them could charge their bills, food, etc. on credit cards while only paying the minimum until they were maxed out then only that person would go bankrupt and ruin their credit and if they were still down on their luck, the other person could do the same thing the following year, effectively making it so they could potentially live off credit cards for two years while only having a small amount of cash each month to pay the minimum payments.

Plus, if they are not married, potentially one partner could make good money and the other only works part time and is low income, and that partner would qualify for discounts on utility bills and food stamps each month too, in addition to free college PELL grants that they wouldn't qualify for if they were married while one partner makes good money.

Financially, the most beneficial thing to do would be to stay unmarried until the man is 52 and then get married with a prenup to protect him, but they would be married for the minimum of 10 years before he retires so if he dies someday, she would still get his retirement.

[In_Trance]

Depends whose eyes you want to see it through. From the eyes of the state; financial obligation. From the eyes of the church; oppression and demoralization

[LazerBean]

One is an actual legally binding commitment, one is just the guise of commitment.

[AmandaYVR]

The level of commitment. One still has an easy escape hatch.

[Guy13]

It is a whole different commitment level as law is involved in marriage.

[Anonymous]

Without the marriage the benefits are not involving the governments nose into your private life. You know, the very same government, that can't take care of it's people.

Also if for any or no reason you get sick and tired of one another, no one will ask you to pay multiple thousands of money for a divorce, that will take months to complete and have your personal belongings repossessed.

Basically much less headache over nothing and not involving any unnecessary greedy 3. rd parties into your business.

[Tyrael]

Those who say marriage is the only legally binding one clearly aren't aware that living together (at least in the UK) you can have a cohabitation agreement which is legally binding. The only different between being married and living together long term is that getting married is an expensive sham that puts you in debt for decades or completely wipes out your savings.

[RobT312]

The relationship is probably no different.
One just has a legal and maybe religious binding. Been with my girlfriend for 5 years and we live as we are married. We are getting married, I do feel it almost doesn’t matter

[TheSpaceGnome]

Mostly just paperwork and legal stuff and a declaration that you wanna be stuck with the situation you already have for life (because it's just that good).

Otherwise it's the same.

[Pterodon]

The difference is the easy out. If living together one can say “fuck this I’m outta here” very easily. It’s not so easy if married. This is why marriage is more than a piece of paper

[bigmatt98]

A government contract

[Pudsmucker]

It is also considered common law.

[Anonymous]

It's safer for the guy.