While many romanticize the idea of getting married and living happily ever after, others choose to engage in committed relationships without the legality of becoming man and wife. It is even more common and accepted for two people to have children out of wedlock without the stigma of being illegitimate. A recent study put out by the United States based Population Reference Bureau indicates that fewer couples are choosing to get married.
So what are the best reasons to get married?
Tax Benefit From Marriage
The tax benefit for married couples varies. If you both make high salaries your combined incomes will place you into a higher tax bracket and you will be paying more taxes. If you have disparate incomes it benefits you tax-wise to get hitched. If you both have large student loans (the interest is tax deductible up to $2,500) you will lose out financially.
Legal Security
The security of having a legally binding marriage is that you are entitled to all of your spouse’s estate should he or she passes away. Period. If you are not legally married and your spouse dies without a will, it becomes more complicated. Also, if your partner is in the hospital in an emergency situation and you are not married, you may not be allowed to visit. In cases of death or emergency, it is better to be married.
Love
If you love your partner and want to spend the rest of your life with him or her, then marriage may be for you. Just remember that love does not conquer all and that there will be times when your partner will drive you crazy. Also consider that 50% of marriages end in divorce and the figure goes up to 75% if both partners have come from divorced families.
Kids
If you have kids together you may consider getting married to enforce the bond of love that already connects you through your children. Just remember that if you get divorced, the kids will also complicate your proceedings and you need to discuss delicate issues involving co-parenting.
Partnership
You could consider marriage as a legal partnership. You both love each other and work well together, so why not make the partnership legal and lasting? Just remember as in any partnership, there is constant work and communication that needs to go on between both parties.
So remember, you don’t necessarily have to get married to live happily ever after. However, if you are considering getting married, consider your motivations and the best reasons to get hitched.
Read the Population Reference Bureau Report from September 2010 here.
Mary Rayme - Mary Rayme is a graphic designer and arts educator with a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.
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