Alizée's Last Name

[DJ_Greg]

Originally Posted by Twitch

In Canada we have something called common law marriage, basically if you live together long enough as a couple you can qualify for whatever benefits you would have if you were officially married without any of the hassles of actually getting married.

We have that in the States, too.

You don't need a piece of paper, that's just something lawyers started to make more money...

Not exactly. It's also important for things like durable power of attorney for health care (a.k.a., you're in a coma and your spouse has the right to decide whether doctors pull the plug or not).

It's philosophically fine to say "marriage is just a piece of paper," but there are certain legal rights conveyed by that paper, as well. In the coma example, a boyfriend/girlfriend cannot make health care decisions for you, should you be incapable of doing so. A husband/wife can. That's important.