Benefits of being married befoe having kids?

[CwtchesCuddles]

My niece has been living with her partner for a while, they make a nice couple. Apparently they are talking of TTC in the near future and have a vague plan to marry sometime. I would like to see them marry first but obviously that is her decision.... but I want to make sure that she is able to make an informed decision. Can someone point me in the direction of some clear information that I can point her to that will illustrate the differences between married vs unmarried?

Easier to save cash for a nice wedding before kids come along.

Point her to the relationships board. A staggering number of men claim they might want to get married some day, until the baby arrives and they go off the idea, leaving his partner with no cards to play.

If she is the lower earner then marriage before babies will protect her. If she is the higher earner then it would protect him. She needs to think carefully about rights to pension/property etc.

People generally think they will get a 50/50 split on assets but for example pension rights don't apply if you are not married. For example if a woman takes time off to be SAHM or goes part-time, she is not entitled to any pension sharing should they split.

security, mostly - if you're the lower earner.

But, if they earn pretty equally, the co own their property and she isnt going to become a SAHM or go part time, then really the only benefit is that if he dies she will get his pension etc and vice versa.

He will be automatically on the birth certificate.

Married parents are much less likely to split up than cohabiting ones (not sure if that’s a benefit, but suspect it’s linked to the man making a real commitment as mentioned above in some way).

You have automatic next of kin if needed for your spouse but not a cohabiting partner (though you can do that but you need to consciously arrange it)

More money for a nice wedding; more time to plan said wedding; not having to pick somewhere family-friendly for a honeymoon!

Plus the legal/ financial benefits mentioned above.

Posted too soon! A lot of people aren’t convinced by the legal/ financial protection side, so the practicalities of having more time and money for a wedding may be a better argument.

I don’t think I would have had the energy to get married after children! Much easier to enjoy a wedding without having to look after your children.