cohabitation

[marantha]

Am I being unreasonable in thinking that the concept of making cohabitees "married" in certain respects (e.g. if they live with a cohabitee for 2 years and their partner dies intestate they are next-of-kin by default) is wrong as it takes away a person's choice as regard whether they wish to married or not?

albinosquirrel, why isn't marriage the same as a civil partnership?
The only reason that I can see is that civil partnerships aren't endorsed by certain religions. Apart from that, is there any real difference?