Also speaking as an ex nurse can you imagine the awful ramifications if pretty much just anyone with the same address as you could claim next of kin rights and eg get your life support switched off? Horrific idea!
It would be impossible to create legislation that suits EVERYONE. Certainly bonkers to create legislation that caters to a very small minority.
If the terms "marriage" and "wife" bother you so much - you don't have to use them in everyday life, it doesn't have to be religious, hell you don't even have to tell people you're married except for the relevant authorities necessary in order to get the rights you desire. Eg dr, lawyer, tax man
I also think given the current state of the economy it would be a stupendous waste of the govts time and money to worry about this.
As a pp said - if you want marital rights get married!
To go back to the op, it should be opt in not opt out, I disagree wholeheartedly with making people who DON'T want to be married, effectively married by default. I disagree with the govt applying it to couples in terms of benefits too which is the current situation which is leaving millions of women open to financial abuse.
"What I don't understand is how you could replicate the institution almost exactly, call it something else and claim it's got no connection to the original." This!
The way to REALLY avoid the situation of men who won't marry in order to protect their assets from their OWN CHILDREN is to change the laws regarding parental responsibilities and maintenance (which at the moment are shit even if you WERE married to the father of your children) AND to educate girls and women to be more financially independent wherever possible and to make financial life GENERALLY more equal. Again even IF you are married there's no guarantee of spousal maintenance it's actually very rarely awarded.
"How does social security work in the UK if unmarried couples have no legal link? Could an unemployed partner claim unemployment benefits even if they're in a de facto relationship with a millionaire?" No (coconut why do you think otherwise?) if you are living with someone you are in a romantic relationship with their income is also scrutinised and 'counts' in calculating if you need means tested benefits.
Ahatlike - dying intestate is a NIGHTMARE to deal with. Everything jointly financial goes into limbo and it can take YEARS to sort it all out. Unless everything financial of yours is in your sole name you need a will. And anyone with children under 18 needs one regarding guardianship of the children. Especially if in like my case their other parent has parental responsibility but is completely estranged from them.
"Does that actually happen?" Yes! Again as an ex nurse the vile machinations of vultures circling a patients deathbed would shock you. I've known spouses with Alzheimer's and other serious illnesses, children (inc disabled orphans) be dismissed without a 'by your leave' some 'relatives' can treat their 'family' appallingly when there's something in it for them.
And as pps have said the govt often wanna stick their hand into the coffers too.
And yes the lawyers would LOVE this as a pp said because it's hard to prove if you're cohabiting or not as no signed contract necessarily involved. The person with assets to lose saying "no we weren't I still had my own place" or whatever and the other "you were there 4 nights a week" the lawyers would make a fortune!