What benefits do you get from marriage that you can't get from a de facto LTR?

[allina]

There are many reasons to be married and my wife has found most of them.

 

Although it's relatively easy to get a divorce, there are people like me who take their commitment seriously. This means that there is a giant advantage to my wife in being married, because I would have left her if we hadn't been married, and so far I haven't, partially because of my commitment.

 

I owned a home when we were married with a big equity. She kept complaining that it wasn't her house, so I agreed to sell it and buy one that was hers. Now all of a sudden half of my equity is hers. Another big advantage.

 

I make much more money than she does. When we were living together she had her own bank account and could only buy what she could afford. Now that we're married it's a joint account, so she spends much, much more than she makes.

 

I'm sure there are others, but that's a start.

 

Another advantage to being married that my wife has found.

 

She no longer has to pretend to like the things I like and no longer has to do the things I like. When we were dating she probably thought she had to in order to get me to marry her.

 

The problem isn't marriage, the problem is the woman that you chose for your wife.

[johan]

Some of the benefits are less sex, more heft on the wife, the sexy outfits disappear, and the "honey do" list. All things to look forward to.

 

How much weight have you gained, Allina?

[allina]

 

How much weight have you gained, Allina?

 

Pshh! I'm training for a marathon fool! I'll always be the hot wife :laugh:

[johan]

Pshh! I'm training for a marathon fool! I'll always be the hot wife :laugh:

 

Oh, clever you are. Stay hot while you cut him off from sex. You eastern Europeans know how to run a marriage!

[allina]

Oh, clever you are. Stay hot while you cut him off from sex. You eastern Europeans know how to run a marriage!

 

Yes, and after that gets old I plan to blow his hard earned money on deep friend twinkies, which I will dip in butter as I spend my days on the couch watching QVC. That will teach him!

[johan]

After you get all that out of your system and want to start "training" again, you can leave him for me. I'll just be here waiting patiently...

[kuma]

Feelings don't automatically make it so. As divorce records show, people don't follow through with their commitments. IMO a de facto relationship represents an even higher level of commitment. With a marriage, people don't always stay together because they love each other. They may not love each other and may stay together only to avoid the costs of a legal divorce. With a de facto relationship, it takes commitment to a new level. Every day your partner is with you, you know that they are there because they love you and not because they are trapped in a legal contract.

 

It really depends on the couple. Some married people take their commitments very seriously.

 

Marriage isn't for every one but it does have its advantage. On a spiritual level it is very romantic and a symbol. As for legalities it is a must if you are going to have children. As a man you will have ZERO rights to a child if you are not married. You could be put in a position where a woman simply gives a kid up for adoption... If you're married you actualy are given automatic rights to the child. Plus there really are many tax benefits and protections. You could still find urself in a divorce like situation even if you never got married depending on how long you had been living togather and if you had children... it would just be a lot more messy.

 

Bottom line don't have kids out of marriage and don't invest in things like houses or anything else with a partner if not married.

 

Well said.

[musemaj11]

Marriage only has benefit for the party with less money.

 

Im never getting married unless the woman has more money than me.