- tax benefits, when you file jointly with your spouse
- estate planning benefits, including inheritance rights
- government benefits, including receiving Social Security, Medicare, and disability benefits for your spouse
- employment benefits, such as obtaining health insurance through your spouse’s employer and the right to take medical leave to care for a spouse who becomes ill
- decision-making benefits, including the right to make medical decisions if your spouse is incapacitated
- financial support, including equitable property division in a divorce
- consumer benefits, such as family rates for health, homeowners', auto, and other types of insurance.
For details, see Marriage Rights and Benefits.
Financial Responsibilities of Marriage
You will take on certain responsibilities when you get married. The responsibilities vary from state to state, but commonly include the following:
- financial support of the children of the marriage
- liability for certain kinds of family expenses
- sharing income and property acquired during the marriage
- financial responsibility for your spouse in the case of a divorce.
After the Wedding
After you've tied the knot, you are legally joined to your spouse. This means that, when the honeymoon's over, you may be in line for some paperwork. All of the following are optional, however, depending your relationship:
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