The Benefits of Marriage – You Will Live Longer

husband and wife at wedding

Marriage is, by all rights, a contract between two individuals, conferring legal benefits that can significantly impact one’s life. While marriage is often celebrated as a joyful union rooted in love, this is not always the case. For some, the practical advantages of marriage—such as tax breaks, access to health, dental, and vision benefits, and greater societal acceptance—make it a compelling choice. In an era where cohabitation is commonplace, the pragmatic benefits of marriage can sometimes be overlooked, yet they remain substantial.

As an idealist and romantic, I acknowledge that some U.S. laws disproportionately disadvantage unmarried women, making marriage a practical solution to certain challenges. For instance, several states restrict physicians from providing fertility assistance to unmarried women, including sperm sales, embryo implantation, or fertility treatments. This isn’t merely about supporting planned single parenthood; it’s about a woman’s right to choose and the state’s role in governing her body.

Practical and Legal Advantages of Marriage

Beyond fertility, marriage offers other significant benefits. It can provide access to costly medical treatments or chronic medications, which can cost thousands of dollars monthly. While some argue that marriage is sacred and should be driven solely by love, a pragmatic perspective reveals that marrying a willing partner can save taxpayers substantial sums in subsidized medical care.

Marriage also fosters a unique sense of stability and partnership, creating a legally recognized bond where property is shared as community property. For example, I once knew a gay man who married his lover’s sister to protect his substantial estate from estranged children. This legal arrangement ensured the sister inherited everything by default, allowing her to distribute 75% of the estate to her brother after settlement. While some may question the appropriateness of using marriage vows in this way, it highlights that not all marriages are driven by conventional motives. If legal protections for loved ones were more accessible, such arrangements might not be necessary.

Marriage can also override prior legal documents, such as wills or trusts, sometimes intentionally to circumvent existing laws or accidentally, disrupting inheritances. For instance, a sudden marriage can nullify a last will and testament, potentially affecting children’s inheritances. Families are dynamic entities, capable of profound kindness or devastating cruelty, and marriage often plays a pivotal role in these dynamics.

Among the most evident benefits of marriage are the financial advantages. A joint income often places couples in a more favorable tax bracket, enhancing their financial comfort. However, this assumes both spouses contribute responsibly, as an imbalance—where one works tirelessly while the other spends recklessly—can negate these benefits. Marriage also makes a public statement of commitment, whether motivated by love, necessity, or financial gain. Society still views married couples as more “legitimate” than cohabiting partners, lending a sense of respect and stability to the union.

The benefits of marriage are extensive, making it a choice worth considering when the opportunity arises. For many, it has proven to be not just a romantic commitment but a literal lifesaver, offering practical solutions to legal, financial, and social challenges.

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