What if marriage was not recognised in law?

[simon12]

Just a thought but as the title says "What if marriage was not recognised in law" the law could still treat people as couples or families where relevant, people could still have whatever ceremony they want and if they want a binding legal agreement they can enter into one on the terms they want. It also solves any LGBT marriage issues if there still are any. Can anyone see a down side?

 

[dad_of_jon]

couldn't possibly say, i've been married 30 years to the same gal so not qualified to answer that

 

[chthon]

I suppose that there would be a contractual agreement, to protect everyone involved and make sure that rights and duties are clearly set out beforehand.

 

[simon12]

couldn't possibly say, i've been married 30 years to the same gal so not qualified to answer that

Can you think of anything that would be different if it wasn't recognised in law? Would you still have had a wedding?

 

[Pope]

Financially, each side wouldn't be protected by law.

One side could have an affair whilst siphoning marital assets to personal accounts, then eventually come clean and separate from the other side, leaving the other side with nothing.

For that reason alone, it's important that marriage is recognised by law.

 

[simon12]

Financially, each side wouldn't be protected by law.

One side could have an affair whilst siphoning marital assets to personal accounts, then eventually come clean and separate from the other side, leaving the other side with nothing.

For that reason alone, it's important that marriage is recognised by law.

Did you miss the bit " if they want a binding legal agreement they can enter into one on the terms they want"

 

[GerritT]

Most people marry for the party, and spend tens of thousands. Then again, most people aren't rational anyway.

 

[MarkBowie]

I think the same people who can’t be married would have ended up in the same problem and not be recognised as a legitimate couple in law. If you could push a button and erase the historical approach to it all then it would be possible.

 

[Pope]

Did you miss the bit " if they want a binding legal agreement they can enter into one on the terms they want"

No. I was answering the question you asked.

 

[Cwrw666]

You could equally argue that it would be just as effective to introduce into law the state of `common law marriage' so that couples living together are in effect married.

 

[Dutto]

Imagine how many people would go out of business between a marriage and a subsequent divorce!

Everyone from wedding dress suppliers, suit hire firms, caterers, priests, solicitors, private detectives etc etc etc. the list is enormous!

However, SWMBO and I are partly there already. It may be cynical, but we always buy separate wedding presents for the bride and groom ...

... and then explain how they can divvy them up when they divorce! :thumb:

 

[simon12]

Cheers all for the replies, I think many people would still have a wedding ceremony even if marriage wasn't part of law but maybe a better idea instead of removing it from law just remove it from the state ie there is a standard marriage contract which can be witnessed by any suitable person and is then filed on a marriage database.

 

[Gunge]

Most people marry for the party, and spend tens of thousands. Then again, most people aren't rational anyway.

Legal ramifications or no, I'm thinking of making my 'missus' a Mrs. After 25 years I still haven't got round to it but it seems to mean a great deal to her. Whaddo I do?? If,if,if it happens it would be the most low-key affair known to all of humanity...

 

[GerritT]

Legal ramifications or no, I'm thinking of making my 'missus' a Mrs. After 25 years I still haven't got round to it but it seems to mean a great deal to her. Whaddo I do?? If,if,if it happens it would be the most low-key affair known to all of humanity...

"I wanna marry you in the cheapest way possible" might get an interesting response.

 

[Gunge]

"I wanna marry you in the cheapest way possible" might get an interesting response.

Lol! Believe it not, that's how she wants it. Me, I just cannot see the point but hey if it makes her happy etc. You know what wimmin are like..

 

[Ken L]

Marriage is nothing more than a legal contract between two people in the eyes of the state.
The state chooses to recognise that contract with several deals on the basis of social cohesion, which is why married couples get certain breaks in the eyes of the state and rights of married partners are given precedence even over the rights of family.
Things only get fractious when (for instance) religious groups try to redefine or assume ownership of marriage or when groups in society engage in marriage practices that are not sanctioned by the state or go against the values of the majority of citizens - first cousin and child marriage being examples.

 

[Ken L]

Legal ramifications or no, I'm thinking of making my 'missus' a Mrs. After 25 years I still haven't got round to it but it seems to mean a great deal to her. Whaddo I do?? If,if,if it happens it would be the most low-key affair known to all of humanity...

Mate of mine and his Mrs (both high earning business owners) got married for £840 quid last year didn't invite anyone, didn't tell anyone until three weeks latter and then threw a BBQ for family and friends.

 

[Cwrw666]

Legal ramifications or no, I'm thinking of making my 'missus' a Mrs. After 25 years I still haven't got round to it but it seems to mean a great deal to her. Whaddo I do?? If,if,if it happens it would be the most low-key affair known to all of humanity...

My daughter got married two weeks ago, one of the best weddings I've ever been to. Held it in a church near here to which we have connections though tbh we're all pretty much atheists. Followed that with booking our local community owned pub for a bit of food and a ceilidh. Only downside was the need to bus people to the church due to zero parking which added to the cost. But it still came in at less than 10% of the average wedding.

 

[Dutto]

Legal ramifications or no, I'm thinking of making my 'missus' a Mrs. After 25 years I still haven't got round to it but it seems to mean a great deal to her. Whaddo I do?? If,if,if it happens it would be the most low-key affair known to all of humanity...

Whatever you do, don't joke about it!

Returning from a holiday after 10 years together and passing Gretna Green I said to SWMBO "How about we drop in and get married then?" to which she replied "Why spoil what has been a great holiday?" so I carried on driving.

Move on two months and at dinner one night recently married friends asked us when we were getting married. I replied "I had it all arranged, license and everything in Gretna Green at the end of our holiday and she knocked me back!" I hadn't done any such thing of course but the chance to make the lass feel guilty was too good a chance to miss.

Move on a couple of weeks and I get a phone call at work. "You must have forged my signature." said the voice as soon as I picked up the phone. "When?" I replied. "When you completed the paperwork for Gretna Green." said the voice.

My reply of "I was only joking." resulted in a slammed down phone and me saying "Hello? Hello?" to a dead line.

When I got home that evening I said "Okay, where do I sign?" and was shown a pile of shredded paper in the kitchen waste-bin and the icy response "YOU will have to go and get another set if YOU want to marry ME!"

We got married about two weeks later at the local Registry Office ...

... and SWMBO started talking to me again about a week afterwards!

The sad thing is that I can't even remember proposing; and these flags should be white! :UKflag::UKflag:

 

[Graz]

Lol! Believe it not, that's how she wants it. Me, I just cannot see the point but hey if it makes her happy etc. You know what wimmin are like..

A sensible approach if you ask me, the missus and I agreed to something similar when we got married as we both hate being centre of attention but didn't bypass all the aspects. Got married in the registry office, parents and siblings + partners only, went out for a nice meal after. Big party in the community centre that evening, band, loads of booze (free) and food. Everyone who came said how great it was.

Also felt a bit guilty as it really didn't cost us anything, both lots of parents had stumped up a few thousand for it, my brother and I did a Calais run for most of the booze.