15:55 Jul 03 2013
Times Read: 2,292
So I've read a few journal entries of some that don't get why people choose to get married.
Well in the US, there are a number of Benefits, Rights & Privileges that are provided to a married person which would not be extended to a person of single status even though they are in a relationship with all the love and commitment of a person with marital status.
According to the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), there are 1,138 statutory provisions in which marital status is a factor in determining benefits, rights, and privileges.
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Right to benefits while married:
Employment assistance and transitional services for spouses of members being separated from military service; continued commissary privileges.
Per diem payment to spouse for federal civil service employees when relocating.
Indian Health Service care for spouses of Native Americans (in some circumstances).
Sponsor husband/wife for immigration benefits.
Larger benefits under some programs if married, including:
Veteran's disability
Supplemental Security Income
Disability payments for federal employees
Medicaid
Property tax exemption for homes of totally disabled veterans
Income tax deductions, credits, rates exemption, and estimates
Wages of an employee working for one's spouse are exempt from federal unemployment tax
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Joint and family-related rights:
Joint filing of bankruptcy permitted
Joint parenting rights, such as access to children's school records
Family visitation rights for the spouse and non-biological children, such as to visit a spouse in a hospital or prison.
Next-of-kin status for emergency medical decisions or filing wrongful death claims.
Custodial rights to children, shared property, child support, and alimony after divorce.
Domestic violence intervention
Access to "family only" services, such as reduced rate memberships to clubs & organizations or residency in certain neighborhoods
Preferential hiring for spouses of veterans in government jobs.
Tax-free transfer of property between spouses (including on death) and exemption from "due-on-sale" clauses.
Special consideration to spouses of citizens and resident aliens.
Threats against spouses of various federal employees is a federal crime.
Right to continue living on land purchased from spouse by National Park Service when easement granted to spouse.
Court notice of probate proceedings
Domestic violence protection orders
Existing homestead lease continuation of rights
Regulation of condominium sales to owner-occupants exemption.
Funeral and bereavement leave
Joint adoption and foster care
Joint tax filing
Insurance licenses, coverage, eligibility, and benefits organization of mutual benefits society.
Legal status with stepchildren
Making spousal medical decisions
Spousal non-resident tuition deferential waiver
Permission to make funeral arrangements for a deceased spouse, including burial or cremation.
Right of survivorship of custodial trust
Right to change surname upon marriage
Right to enter into prenuptial agreement
Right to inheritance of property
Spousal privilege in court cases (the marital confidences privilege and the spousal testimonial privilege).
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For those divorced or widowed, the right to many of ex- or late spouse's benefits, including:
Social Security pension
Veteran's pensions, indemnity compensation for service-connected deaths, medical care, and nursing home care, right to burial in veterans' cemeteries, educational assistance, and housing
survivor benefits for federal employees.
Survivor benefits for spouses of longshoremen, harbor workers, railroad workers.
Additional benefits to spouses of coal miners who die of black lung disease.
$100,000 to spouse of any public safety officer killed in the line of duty.
Continuation of employer-sponsored health benefits
Renewal and termination rights to spouse's copyrights on death of spouse.
Continued water rights of spouse in some circumstances.
Payment of wages and workers compensation benefits after worker death.
Making, revoking, and objecting to post-mortem anatomical gifts.
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So you see, if you are going to be in a committed, long-term relationship, marriage has a positive side to it.
If you fear marriage because you fear getting a divorce and losing everything, well with everything being equal, if you get half of everything acquired while married, hey, that's better than nothing.
The key is to own all the major stuff you want BEFORE you get married and you should be safe if a divorce happens. You can even go as far as a prenuptial agreement.
COMMENTS
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LadyBianca
23:01 Jul 31 2013
Lol woman can do the same
SilenceSoothes
23:23 Jul 31 2013
-nods- Amen!