Can a serious relationship without marriage work long term?

Question

So many marriages end in divorce today and so many of the ones who stick it out are miserable together.

Wow I am truly impressed at the number of intelligent answers. I didnt expect it.

Answer 1

SOME PEOPLE ARE VERY HAPPY TO NOT BE MARRIED, DO I THINK IT CAN WORK LONG TERM, WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE , YES!!

Answer 2

They are only miserable because of a lack of communication, and the fact that ppl's feelings get pushed aside for the sake of the kids and work and everything else. As for your question there about serious relationships working out without marriage. As in just shacking up forever. I'm sure it can for some people. But if your partner is not of the same mind as you. Then you already have a problem. Two different goals for your lives. So that won't work out. Always best to talk about things like this ahead of time in the relationship. Because some women only talk about marriage in the abstract. Knowing that they want to get married and they figure talking about kids and what they will name them will get the guy to propose. But guys aren't like that. So if you are feeling like just shacking up, let the chick know now, that marriage is not in your plans. So she isn't crushed or surprised when you don't tie the knot soon. Good luck.

Answer 3

Long term relationships do work without the benefit of marriage. If u love one another, marriage does not intensify that love. Couples do often marry after living together for some time, usually when there r children involved. Another reason some marry is due to property holdings and savings accounts in case of the death of a partner. Otherwise, there is no reason a union between a couple cannot thrive without the benefit of marriage whether living together or separately, provided both r content in that manner. It`s all a matter of choice in the life style u prefer.

Answer 4

Sounds like it will be healthy for you. It is not generally healthy for a relationship for one or more of the committed parties to want to "take a break" to determine if they should be in the relationship. Call it what you will, what you are really talking about here is going out and gaining more experience sexually or in relationships in general. This will not sit well with your BF and once you come back he will not be able to see past the fact that you needed to "take a break" and do this. I know I would not. If you are talking marriage then you should already be at the point in which commitment is primary. If it is not then you need to determine why it is not. Sexual experience and even relationship experience will grow while you stay with the same person. If you feel the need for experience outside your current relationship, then you should probably not take this relationship any further and you should probably rethink the relationship as a whole. Good Luck!

Answer 5

That's not true you only hear of the ones that end in divorce and 9 out of 10 times it's always the man who wants out because he thinks he is missing something. That something he thinks he is missing he has always had right in front of him but was to blind or stupid to see it or to want it. Men blame us because they are unhappy in the marriage it could be lack of sex not enough excitement unclean house no dinner on the table what ever it is the man refuses to see he plays a big part in how the marriage is going. He thinks because he is unhappy it's the wife's fought he is to suborn to realize he is responsible for his own happiness it's easier to blame the wife for his miss comings. Without that Little piece of paper there is lack of respect honor and decency and if the couple can't see that then they are doomed right from the start. As for me i have been married 3 times first two we ended as friends and the third I'm still married to him it's been a little over 28 years now and we are very happy together. I believe in marriage not living together i will not give a man me without marriage I'm worth more then a free piece of a s s .

Answer 6

My ex's grandfather and "grandmother" did not get married, and they have been together since before he was a small child...he's in his 30's now. If you are truly in love with someone and committed to commitment, then you don't need a little gold band or a piece of paper saying that you are. I think too many people these days are in love with the idea of being in love, having the picture perfect marriage/family, and don't really look at what all goes into making those things work. I also think that people don't work very hard at staying committed...we are a society of instant gratification. We want what we want when we want it. What a tangled web we weave!

Answer 7

That all depends on you. Many marriages DO end in divorce; mine did. However, I am not going to stereo-type it. If you picked up a hammer and you hit yourself on the head with it repeatedly and this was your only experience with hammers, you'd probably say, "Ouch! This hurts. Hammers are bad. I don't like hammers. I never want a hammer in my life." Same holds true if you only primarily notice marriages that end in divorce or the parties happen to be miserable. If you were married to a horrible person or the majority of marriages you see end in divorce, you're going to have a negative perspective on marriage. And granted, there are alot of them out there. But it isn't marriage's fault; you were using it wrong.
Serious relationships DO work without marriage if BOTH parties do not want marriage in their lives. However...if one of those parties feels for whatever reason that they need or want it, it will (believe me on this one) cause serious strife. Personally, I don't really see the difference between marriage and cohabitation but there are many people who do. I think relationships can work out just fine without it.

Answer 8

I am happily in my tenth year of a serious relationship, sure the discussion comes up from time to time but we both have a lot of other issues on our plates. Most impportantly, we realize that neither of us are going anywhere so no need to walk out and get the certificate until we can actually enjoy the process

Answer 9

There is really no hard and fast rule about the success of a relationship, whether or not the two people involved are legally married. Everything depends on how they treat each other.

Answer 10

Yes of course it can, it is all about the level of commitment, if both people are totally committed and work hard to keep their relationship strong then there is no need to get married if you do not wish to.

Answer 11

Yes it can,
My parents were together 31 years before getting married and the main reason why they got married? Inheritance and tax reasons hey were happy as they were