Legal pro's and cons of getting married..

kazdaz22

Hi all,

My boyfriend and I have been together for nearly 10 years now, and ever since we have met he has been adament that he doesn't want to get married. We are in a commited and loving relationship, and I feel marriage wouldn't really change anything between us so lets go for it, whereas he feels like it won't change anything so why bother!

We have recently started looking to buy a house together and are keen to start a family once we have settled in our new home.

So, I'd be interested to know what the legal pro's and cons are of getting married. Is it risky purchasing a house together without being married? What are the legal implications of having children without being married?

I'd be interested in your thoughts and opinions... preferably not your judgements (like my Dad!) :-)

Many thanks
Kaz

RAS

Read this thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4869873

LilElvis

A big financial one is that many pension schemes only pay a spousal pension if you are married or CPed.

lostinrates

House buying can be dealt with quite satisfactorily by paper work.


You need to check things like employer insurances if relevant, that they pay out to partners not only spouses or civil partners. Some do not.

There are other benefits. Some are morbid.... There are benefits to being married when it comes to fiscal arrangements one death if I recall correctly (I might not ) and there certainly are benefits if you are on different tax bands, or potentially if one or both of you are self employed or business owners.

Transfer of money between spouses is not subject to taxation or penalty in anyway IIRC.


There are very much potentially benefits for sahp in the event of a marriage breakdown in the case of marriage. This of course can ultimately be viewed as a potential benefit for children and insurance of stability for them in the eventually of things going wrong.

Bound to be some I've missed.

thorsoak

1. If either one of you is involved in a life-changing accident/end of life scenario, you are not considered "next of kin" unless you have made a clear declaration - in other words - your partner's parents/siblings could made decisions that you might not agree with regarding treatment etc.

2. Absolutely essential that you make wills.

3. If the tories remain in power, you may find that there are taxation benefits in being marred.

claire16c

I'd be asking if he feels like it won't change anything but it's important to you & he knows that, then surely he wouldn't mind if you did get married?

I would be careful about buying a house or having children before you resolve this issue before this turns into a situation like a few other posters have started threads on recently.

krustylouise

For me, it's not a legal thing, but having a different surname to my child is difficult.

Georgiegirl256

kazdaz22 wrote: »

Hi all,

My boyfriend and I have been together for nearly 10 years now, and ever since we have met he has been adament that he doesn't want to get married. We are in a commited and loving relationship, and I feel marriage wouldn't really change anything between us so lets go for it, whereas he feels like it won't change anything so why bother!
Kaz

So you think it won't change anything, and he thinks it won't change anything, so you're on the same page then aren't you? Or are you? Why do you want to get married if you feel it won't change anything? Is it just for the legal protection?

Mojisola

Lots of info here - https://www.advicenow.org.uk/living-together/

lostinrates

claire16c wrote: »

I'd be asking if he feels like it won't change anything but it's important to you & he knows that, then surely he wouldn't mind if you did get married?

I would be careful about buying a house or having children before you resolve this issue before this turns into a situation like a few other posters have started threads on recently.

Op doesn't say its important to her but implies its important to her father.


I suggest op makes herself aware of all the ramifications, legal, fiscal and emotional in event of a long happy forever relationship and in the event of breakdown and base a decision on what's right for her and her partner.

What's right for me. (Marriage) might not be the right choice for her.

Tancred

kazdaz22 wrote: »

Hi all,

My boyfriend and I have been together for nearly 10 years now, and ever since we have met he has been adament that he doesn't want to get married. We are in a commited and loving relationship, and I feel marriage wouldn't really change anything between us so lets go for it, whereas he feels like it won't change anything so why bother!

We have recently started looking to buy a house together and are keen to start a family once we have settled in our new home.

So, I'd be interested to know what the legal pro's and cons are of getting married. Is it risky purchasing a house together without being married? What are the legal implications of having children without being married?

I'd be interested in your thoughts and opinions... preferably not your judgements (like my Dad!) :-)

Many thanks
Kaz

If you were to split up you will have little or no rights to get your hands on his cash/assets/pension. No wonder he doesn't want to get married! :rotfl: