is there such a big difference between living together and being married?

Answer 1

No difference if you live together for an extended period of time. Common law has changed in the legal system.
Income tax still treats you like a couple, If he/she dies ;you are entitled to the estate. Living together is just good for a less paper work when splitting the sheets.
You can still sue the other party for alimony or child support.
Legal responsibilities are still the same.
No big expense of wedding.

Answer 2

I think there is a big difference between the two.
When you live together, either one can leave without much fuss at any time. You are socially seen as a couple, but as little more than boyfriend/girlfriend ( or girlfirend n girlfriend/ boyfriend n boyfriend...whatever your flavor).

You have very few legal rights to accounts that aren't shared or primarily in the other partner's name. You also have no legal right to make medical decisions for each other in emergency or to even be present in the hospital in an emergency. You also have no legal right to inheritance unless there is a will and a greedy family member has a decent chance of even fighting that in court.

A few states offer help with medical insurance for live in partners, but the majority of states and companies will not insure a live in partner.

As a married couple, you are socially seen as being married and committed to each other for life. You can easily share a name, if you wish. If the relationship goes through a rough path, there is a legal and social committment that means that the couple is more likely to try to work things out. Even in these modern times, being married entitles you to a certain respect that just living together will never give you. Married, we in society know that you valued each other over all others. Living together, we know you are just very fond of each other.

Legally, a spouse has rights to make medical decisions, get medical insurance from an employer, access accounts and inherit. As a spouse, you also have rights to life insurance claims, property bought during the marriage, pension and so on.

Yeah, marriage is just a piece of paper, but its a very important piece of paper.

Answer 3

It is what you make of it in either situation. But, just living together may not bestow the comfort feeling you have in a marriage, knowing that any day the relationship could come to an abrupt end for a lot of reasons, including one not feeling they have a commitment to be faithful to the other, or they don't owe the other person anything spiritually. There are those who feel marriage is just a piece of paper made for convenience of two people living together. But usually the two involved people have a lot more commitment to stay together, share things, go thru good and bad, thick and thin, and come to rely on each other for comfort, caring, and understanding.

Answer 4

Really and truly there isn't THAT much difference aside from a piece of paper. Many peple, both sexes included, tended to feel better livnign together as compared to marriage dfor many reasons. One in particular being that the divorce rate is so igh that many people tend to think abotu it and reconsider marriage at that point. However, others tend o feel less tied down - even though most of the times, they still ahve the same boundaries as they would in a marriage, just a matter of technicality.

Answer 5

A lot. In a marriage there is a lifelong commitment. Marriage has other benefits because laws are set up to deal with marriage while living together can mean a couple wants to cohabit but not have the benefits and burdens of marriage

Answer 6

you know what makes me sick. The fact the people today think it's OK to be in a relationship with no thought to getting married. What's worse they introduce each other as husband or wife, but never actually commit to the relationship. I'm not a religion fanatic, but your either living in sin, and non commitment OR your married. You can't be both, If you truly love someone you should want to marry them. I noticed most of these answers are that it's the same. You people must be 1. young 2. stupid 3. both

Answer 7

I found that marriage carries (for most people) more of a sense of commitment - hence a good bit more guilt if it ends, for whatever reason. Living together, while a big step for most people (particularly those that try to merge two existing single lifestyles), is more akin to going steady (where sex is commonly engageed-in), a sort of try-it-to-see-if-we-like-it deal, easily broken.

I also suspect that many are like I was, being on an almost-best-behavior basis, which more-easily disappears in a marriage.

Answer 8

Well my first marriage there wasn't any difference. But with the jerk I married my second time he was a dream when we lived together and a nightmare once he had a paper and thought I was his slave...as in ownership.
It is truely who they are and not in all cases are they going to change but even going to a counselor before hand will not guarantee that they will lie and be dishonest to be good to you.
I only know that we all make mistakes and what happens, happens but if you don't take a chance on someone to be there and be your partner you will be alone all of your life.

Why they make erasers on pencils.

Answer 9

There's a big difference living together u could just get up one day and you live but if you are married it will take long to get a divorce, you will pay money and you might have to split everything that you have

Answer 10

no difference at all ive done both ...marrying then divorcein is real messy ..where as just splitting is easier ...if ya partner dies u will get every thing if he does a will giving u every thing ...tax wise marriage is better ..

but overall...there is no difference only no paper work and no ring ...there are so many divorces these days ..and once bitten twice shy !! u can be just has happy living together

Answer 11

My husband and I lived together before we got married and so far it doesn't seem any different to us. The only difference I would think is that divorce is a lot harder than breaking up. You should not get married if you aren't ready to consider it a lifetime committment.