Marriage and the State?

My primary partner and I of seven plus years have been talking lately about actually getting married legally (We had a private, informal marriage some years ago, where it was just us and the cats as our witness.)

I was also wondering… how much easier is it for married couples to get financing and loans compared to a “unwed” couples?

We were looking at the tax situation, too. Since I only make 25k a year and she makes 58k a year. And how much that will affect us.

And other aspects, like being on our deathbeds, being in the hospital, funerals, last rites, insurance, and all that jazz..

I guess what I am trying to get at here is.. why does marriage seem like a business arrangement? Oh, bother… I know the answer, how terribad..

what state do you live in? In texas and many states, you’re legally married if you live with someone* for a certain amount of time.

of a different sex

Virginia doesn’t have a common law marriage, they made it illegal.