3 ms·

What is the possibility of simply socially informing your friends and family that you are "married" to your significant other, changing your last names to match

What is the possibility of simply socially informing your friends and family that you are "married" to your significant other, changing your last names to match, and signing a contract that you will support her/him for x number of years after any split? If you both love each other, there is no problem. If it does not work out, there is a monetary split as you defined in the contract, so no one is taken advantage of, and both people are secure for some amount of time until they can move on to a new job/new relationship etc. That way you don't have to waste 10 grand paying lawyers to setup a prenup so that you don't have to waste 50 grand paying lawyers to handle a divorce settlement.

smokey_the_bear 16y ago
You'd miss out on a lot of marriage benefits with this strategy - jointly filing taxes, tax free inheritance to your spouse, hospital visitation rights, sharing your health insurance, and a lot more
- semanticist 16y ago
  Under UK law, if you live together as a married couple, then you effectively legally are a married couple. 'Common-law' marriage. It only holds if you really do live like a married couple and people would reasonably assume you were married - but it would apply in this case. So this 'work around' would still get the benefits of being married - but also wouldn't avoid any divorce issues.
  - barrkel 16y ago
    (Citation needed) - As I understand it, there is no such thing as common-law marriage in English law, and any reference to such is a reference to American common-law marriage. Cohabitation is different - part of means-tested benefits etc. - but it doesn't imply rights or obligations.
    - julius_geezer 16y ago
      A few US states recognize common law marriage, or did within the last quarter century. South Carolina, I know is or was one--a mistress of William Hurt's offered the theory that they had been man and wife during the few weeks he was there for a movie.
    - semanticist 16y ago
      My mistake - looks like it's no longer true. It DID apply in Scotland (as "marriage by cohabitation with habit and repute" - 'common law marriage' is a much easier term to remember) until 2006. I had reason to check on it in 2004 and hadn't realised it had changed.
- grandalf 16y ago
  Joint filing of taxes often results in paying more taxes, and spreads liability across both spouses, so both can be held accountable if the other one commits fraud.
  - positr0n 16y ago
    > and spreads liability across both spouses, so both can be held accountable if the other one commits fraud. I think you're doing it wrong.
    - grandalf 16y ago
      Married filing jointly shares liability. Married filing separately offers worse rates.
joshuacc 16y ago
This might work for a lot of the people on HN, but if you're part of a mainstream religious group your Priest/Rabbi/Pastor will probably insist on maintaining the legalities.
- jrockway 16y ago
  "You need to file the marriage certificate on Monday." "OK, we'll do that." Then don't.
  - joshuacc 16y ago
    Well, in my case it worked the other way around. "We need to see the marriage license at least two weeks before the wedding."
henrikschroder 16y ago
Meanwhile, over in Europe, we're all scratching our heads and wondering why you would need lawyers to setup a prenup or handle the divorce.

smokey_the_bear 16y ago

You'd miss out on a lot of marriage benefits with this strategy - jointly filing taxes, tax free inheritance to your spouse, hospital visitation rights, sharing your health insurance, and a lot more

semanticist 16y ago
Under UK law, if you live together as a married couple, then you effectively legally are a married couple. 'Common-law' marriage. It only holds if you really do live like a married couple and people would reasonably assume you were married - but it would apply in this case. So this 'work around' would still get the benefits of being married - but also wouldn't avoid any divorce issues.
- barrkel 16y ago
  (Citation needed) - As I understand it, there is no such thing as common-law marriage in English law, and any reference to such is a reference to American common-law marriage. Cohabitation is different - part of means-tested benefits etc. - but it doesn't imply rights or obligations.
  - julius_geezer 16y ago
    A few US states recognize common law marriage, or did within the last quarter century. South Carolina, I know is or was one--a mistress of William Hurt's offered the theory that they had been man and wife during the few weeks he was there for a movie.
  - semanticist 16y ago
    My mistake - looks like it's no longer true. It DID apply in Scotland (as "marriage by cohabitation with habit and repute" - 'common law marriage' is a much easier term to remember) until 2006. I had reason to check on it in 2004 and hadn't realised it had changed.
grandalf 16y ago
Joint filing of taxes often results in paying more taxes, and spreads liability across both spouses, so both can be held accountable if the other one commits fraud.
- positr0n 16y ago
  > and spreads liability across both spouses, so both can be held accountable if the other one commits fraud. I think you're doing it wrong.
  - grandalf 16y ago
    Married filing jointly shares liability. Married filing separately offers worse rates.

joshuacc 16y ago

This might work for a lot of the people on HN, but if you're part of a mainstream religious group your Priest/Rabbi/Pastor will probably insist on maintaining the legalities.

jrockway 16y ago
"You need to file the marriage certificate on Monday." "OK, we'll do that." Then don't.
- joshuacc 16y ago
  Well, in my case it worked the other way around. "We need to see the marriage license at least two weeks before the wedding."

henrikschroder 16y ago

Meanwhile, over in Europe, we're all scratching our heads and wondering why you would need lawyers to setup a prenup or handle the divorce.