Why should anyone get married?

Question

If two people truly love one another, why do they need a legal document to bind them together. It seems to me that so long as the two people still love each other deeply, they will try really hard to make each other happy. When the love is gone they should be allowed to end the relationship without penalty. I don't really see the benefits of marriage...especially for men.

Answer 1

well legally,

if you are in an accident or die, your estate should go to your wife and children

if no children, then your estate could go to your immediate family member, instead of your loving steady gf who pays half the mortgage and supported you throughout your life.

easier to get a loan.  shows stability.

public declaration of love and fidelity.

why always have an escape plan????  

what do u tell the children??  don't they deserve stability????

Answer 2

In the U.S., for health insurance and tax reasons. Some people are sentimental and traditional and like marriage. Some aren't.

Answer 3

i agree with u a piece of paper doesnt make u love each other any more than if u dont have it

Answer 4

it represents a commitment to each other.  you wed in front of people for a reason - they serve as witnesses to your promise. certainly, the other benefits are health benefits, life insurance benefits, taxes, share of household responsibilities, longer life, etc.

the rate of divorce is going down, but if you have concerns you may be commitment-phobic.

both women &  men sufffer in divorce. women have fewer financial resources, having to rely on her income alone and perhaps on child support if there are children and if the father pays it.  she also does worse in the labor and remarriage markets.

if you want to "end the relationship without penalty" it sounds as if you dont understand the value of women in relationshps and have problems with commitment....you just want your cake and not have any accountability or responsibility.

good that you're asking questions tho

Answer 5

I don't plan on getting married, but I don't plan on having kids, either (except via adoption). If I were going to have kids, then I would get married, because I would want the man I was with to be legally bound to me-- just in case-- for the kids' sakes. If it's just a sheet of paper, then why SHOULDN'T anyone get married?

Answer 6

No one has to do anything they don't want to do.

Answer 7

I see your point and it is very well thought out and everything, but the truth of the matter is... if you love someone that much... why would you say ohhh well we might get a divorce so we shouldnt get married in the first place... you are starting out the entire relationship flawed.. You guys are not one... under the law or under God. Marriage is sacred... anyone can have a bf or gf but who can make a marriage work... well if your truly in love like you say you should want to prove to the girl, and vice versa that your willing to try until death do you part, and under the law of God, and the law of the land. Marriage proves how much faith you have in the relationship, and if you are worried about not getting all of your stuff back then sign a prenumptual agreement... The kids will be much healthier mentally with legally wed parents.. and financially and ethically its better... its just better... if your that much in love... not lust~

P.S. Its not just a piece of paper... its your promise to try to do the right thing... a promise that was confessed to the world.... to your family... to her.. to him, and under the law...

Answer 8

That's my view of marriage. As for health and tax benefits, I think these things should only be granted to individuals, not couples.

Answer 9

I really wouldn't be to comfortable with a guy touching me if I wasn't sure he was going to stick around.

Any guy can tell me he loves me, I pay attention to a man's actions for a while before I start to believe it. If a man loved me why wouldn't he want to marry me?

Answer 10

I could be cynical and say to subsidies women further....

     But the truth is marriage only benefits the wife. The only benefit for men claims a feminist report that it saves men 1-2 hour of housework than if they where single.

      That doesn't seem like much of a benefit.

And the fact that in a majority of marriages as soon as you get married the wife stops wanting to have s*x.

     So your stuck subsidizing someone chick who complains about doing any house work or cooking, can't look for some one else, and you get no s*x. marriage is slavery so no ty.

  

Until the scales are balanced marriage rates will continue to fall.

     The whole "suck it up be a man" sexist rhetoric is getting old and we are getting tired of it.

Answer 11

Your parents don't want to give you money for a house and babies if you are not married . The whole deal splits up and the money seems wasted.

Answer 12

There are the death benefits available to the surviving partner if the two people happen to be married. That's one reason to get married. Another reason to get married is to keep other men away from your woman.

Answer 13

The legal documents are for the government it isn't for the marriage per-se.

The vows are a public declaration before God and everybody that the lives they have are for each other. Till death parts them. The vows are the "word" of the man and the woman that binds them together for the unity of a family, it is a conformation of their love and their marriage in a Holy Sacrament. This is a spirit that goes beyond the governments census' and the legalities of the document. Love is not something that is always there and it has to be worked on or you will lose your spouse married or not.

The benefits of marriage is security and survival. Without that the family would dissolve and the children will suffer, as will the man and the woman.

As for common law? It always has an open back door.

Answer 14

Some people want to, and there's no reason to forbid it. But yeah, you have a point.

Answer 15

You don't see the benefit because you see it as just a legal document. To many it's not just a piece of paper. A lot of people do it for religious reasons and also personal spiritual reasons.

As a couple to declare your love forever and have a cermony where you invite all your friends and publically join families and names is a very special ritual. It's like the final step you can take to declare your love. Some people may get matching tattoos, others may buy a special gift but we all do these special little rituals that mean something to us to declare our love and marriage ceremony is one of them.

Also, legally it does benefit a couple. If one sadly dies, if they are just a partner the estate would not go to them. Also for some things such as mortagages, loans, adoption etc it's easier to be granted these is you are married.

Answer 16

Why would someone want to live with someone without being married?

To much extra work involved for my taste.

Extra laundry, extra cleaning, extra dishes. etc.

Answer 17

Studies have proven that marriage is actually more beneficial to the man. If you don't see the benefits of marriage, then YOU shouldn't get married. There are many reasons to get married, one being that you love one person and plan on spending the rest of your life with them. Adult relationships involve working through problems, ALL problems, not "ending the relationship without penalty" when the "love is gone." True love is work. It is a continuous effort for both people. It is definitely worth it, though.

Answer 18

Why indeed!

Answer 19

Marriage is not mandatory.  People who share your view of marriage and commitment should (simply) refrain from getting married.