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Original poster

Should unmarried couples have more rights?

285 replies

Niceguy2 · 03/02/2011 16:55

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12354670

What do MN'ers think? Should unmarried couples get more rights to claim from each other like married couples?

Or if they wanted that then they should get married?

OP posts:
Portofino · 04/02/2011 23:07

It is a legal contract - with rights and responsibilities. To me, personally, is it simple. Are you committed to that person or not? Are you a family unit? If so, then you sign on the dotted line.

It is most emphatically NOT about big dresses, huge parties, and a lovely honeymoon in the Maldives.

usualsuspect · 04/02/2011 23:10

I've been committed for over 30 years ..why would getting married make any difference?

We are a family, we have mutual respect in our relationship signing on the dotted line would mean jack shit

bb99 · 04/02/2011 23:11

gaelicsheep - agree that there's no need to re-invent the wheel.

Marriage CONTRACT already exists, so why do we need a new 'this is the same as a marriage contract, but we're not married AT ALL' legal document.

It all seems a bit insulting to me, as a married person - marriage not good enough for people now? Marriage seems to be becoming a dirty word in a world gone PC and liberal mad IMVHO.

usualsuspect · 04/02/2011 23:12

and I feel insulted that my relationship is not as good as yours

gaelicsheep · 04/02/2011 23:12

Usualsuspect - that's fine by me. Just don't expect to get the same rights as those that conform. You seem to want to have your cake and eat it.

bb99 · 04/02/2011 23:13

Usualsuspect - signing on the dotted line, whether the current marriage license or a.n. other type contract would mean 'jack shit' - it would get you the rights you seem to want.

I truly respect your decision NOT to e married, please don't denegrate my decision to GET married by referring to marriage in such derogatory terms as jack shit.

bb99 · 04/02/2011 23:14

be married...

Portofino · 04/02/2011 23:14

usualsuspect, that;s fine as long as you have stuff in place that covers your asses if one of you dies.

bb99 · 04/02/2011 23:15

plus, no-one has posted your relationship isn't as good as being married - your legal rights just aren't as clearly defined, unless you sign a LOAD of dotted lines and do some legalise gymnastics.

usualsuspect · 04/02/2011 23:17

I would never marry for the rights can you imagine the scene ..down on one knee 'will you marry me' ...yes ,because you might fuck off and I will have nothing ..just wrong on so many levels

bb99 · 04/02/2011 23:20

usualsuspect

I got married because I believe that DH and I won't 'FUCK OFF' and leave each other, else I wouldn't have bothered.

You can already legally sort out the same rights as marrieds, just without the all inclusive commitment contract - so would you conform to another type of contract and sign on the line if it was just unjargonned as a marriage? What would be the point?

gaelicsheep · 04/02/2011 23:21

I don't get it usualsuspect. Do you or do you not want the same rights as married couples?

usualsuspect · 04/02/2011 23:28

The assumption that its always the woman that will lose out pisses me off ..we can earn our own money and even own our own houses

so I dunno what I'm moaning about really Grin I just don't want to be married

bb99 · 04/02/2011 23:33

US - you know the answer then, don't get married Smile.

usualsuspect · 04/02/2011 23:34

I can think of nothing worse Smile

bb99 · 04/02/2011 23:36

I can think of nothing worse than NOT being married. Smile

bb99 · 04/02/2011 23:37

Horses for courses - we're all different! And that's not a problem until we're all told we need to be the same - and everyone should have the same rights even if they don't sign the contract...

usualsuspect · 04/02/2011 23:43

I don't want to be the same though ..because thats what you do ..don't you ever challenge anything?

gaelicsheep · 04/02/2011 23:58

I have no problem whatsoever with people like yourself, usualsuspect, who choose not to get married. Each to their own. But I don't still get whether or not you are one of those who wants to be able to have the same rights as a married couple, without jumping through additional hoops? That's the thing I have a problem with. I don't think money should be spent devising a whole new type of contract to meet the needs of a few rebellious types.

MoldyWarp · 05/02/2011 00:07

usual suspect I am going to steal your posts on here for my future arguments!

usualsuspect · 05/02/2011 00:09

I don't think its just a few rebellious types..times change, things moves on
and personally I would want the choice to opt into a cohabiting contract or whatever. I don't want or need legal recognition for my relationship .I am covered if dp died or fucked off ..I do think that if some couples have been together for a long time there needs to be something in place to protect some women

I just think to get married just for the legal contract is not what marriage is all about iyswim

MoldyWarp · 05/02/2011 00:11

'rebellious types' veiled insult

usualsuspect · 05/02/2011 00:13

I need to grow the fuck up Grin

Morloth · 05/02/2011 00:22

But if this gets put through, then for all intents and purposes usualsuspect you would be married to you DP, whether you liked it or not.

usualsuspect · 05/02/2011 00:25

I know ..which is why I think I would like the choice

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