The Benefits of Legal Marriage

The typical married couple receives over 160 benefits and rights by virtue of their union. It seems ironic that a heterosexual couple married for one hour, has more rights and benefits than a same-sex couple that has been together for 30 years. The following is only a sample of some of the rights and benefits provided by legal marriage.

Common Benefits of Marriage

• Insurance benefits through a spouses employer
• Insurance discounts offered to married couples and related persons living in same household
• Government benefits such as Social Security and Medicare
• Veterans/military benefits offered to spouses (education, medical care, housing loans)
• Income tax deductions, credits and exemptions
• Tax relief for natural disaster losses
• Immigration of foreign partners
• Witness and court testimony rights
• Continuation of lease rights (renewal of lease)
• Community property rights
• Inheritance rights
• Payment of wages for deceased partners and workers compensation benefits
• Right to enter into pre-marital agreement
• Automatic rights of survivorship
• Consent to post-mortem examination
• Right to make burial arrangements
• Bereavement leave for partner, child, or partner's close relative
• Family leave to care for partner or child during illness
• Right to make decisions in medical emergencies ( "next of kin")
• Visitation rights for partner or child in hospital or other public institutions
• Custodial rights for a seriously injured partner
• Right to file a wrongful death suit
• Tuition discounts/use of facilities
• Company benefits/perks offered to spouses
• Commercial discounts/incentives offered only to married couples or families
• Joint child custody, adoption and foster care rights
• Equitable division of property, child custody, visitation rights and support in the case of divorce
• The right to obtain domestic violence protection orders