Getting Married: An Overview
What to expect before and after marriage.
Getting married is a big decision, and it isn’t just about making a lifelong commitment to your partner: Marriage is a legal contract. When you get married, you not only accept rights and benefits but also take on legal and financial obligations.
Definition of Marriage
Marriage is the legal union of two people, who are joined together after they obtain a marriage license from their state and take part in a ceremony. In most states, only a man and a woman can get married, but in California and Massachusetts, same-sex couples can marry too. In some other states, same-sex partners can enter into marriage-like relationships with rights and obligations similar to those of marriage. (If you're interested, see Pros and Cons of Same-Sex Marriage: Is it for You? )
In some states, heterosexual couples can become legally married without a license or ceremony. This type of marriage is called a "common law" marriage. A common law marriage is created when two people live together for a significant period of time (not defined in any state), hold themselves out as a married couple, and intend to be married. For more information, see Common Law Marriage FAQ.
Before the Wedding
When you get married, the rights and responsibilities of that relationship are defined by the laws of the state in which you live. However, you and your spouse may be able to modify the rules by creating a premarital (or prenuptial) agreement (for example, you can agree to keep your property separate). Before you say "I do," you might want to consider the following:
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