Kids from Married Parents do significantly better than those from Cohabitating parents

[drosophila]

According to Gloria Hunniford this morning on 'Heaven and Earth'. They were having a debate about marriage Vs commitment without marriage and Gloria announces that according to research (she didn't provide a source) kids do much better (not sure what she meant perhaps academically) if their parents are married than if they simply live together.

DP and I have been together for 18years and we have two kids. Are our kids worse off than say a couple who have been married for say 5 years. I'm not against marriage particularly just wonder where we would get the time to do it.

Anyone care to share their thoughts?

i dont understand peopel hwo manage to rear kids but not find time to get married
it only takes half ab hour
apart form that i dont really care.

I would be really interested to see this research if there is any.

Twoddle from old Gloria then!

i was listenign to the news abotu people who want to have the same legal rights as marreid poeple but dont want to get married, i just didnt get ti

i thoguth well if you want it and will go through another legal ceremony to get the "status "why reinvent the wheel!

Well maybe someone here will post a link. Thing is DP's brother died without a will and leaving behind anumarried partner and two kids so we know we should just do it for practical sake but it just never seems to happen.

I think deep down I am afraid the romance will go once we got married .

arf

So you don't think romance disappears when you get wed. I just think DP will stop putting the chocolates on my pillow and other things of that nature.

There's lots of research showing this - kids of married parents have better outcomes in terms of academic results, less likelihood of becoming involved in crime, etc.

However, I'm not sure whether the research they do weights other factors, such as income, class etc. Married parents tend to have higher incomes than co-habiting parents (don't ask me why) so that could also influence outcomes.

Can't believe that any research wouldn't find a correlation between the quality of the parental relationship rather than the legal status tbh. It would be odd to have the conclusion that kids of unhappy married had a better outcome than kids of long-term happy cohabitees.

(though for once, I agree with cod - there are many good reasons for not getting married, but lack of time???!)

OK so how does oe actually get married. Seriously what would my first step be?

it's expensive to get married though

I would figure phoning or calling in at the local register office would be the first place to start - or church/etc. if a religious ceremony is wanted.

You can get married very cheaply as well though surely?

would you want church or civil?

You have to ask someone first

Here's a good link from the citizens advice bureau with most details you'll need.

ooh ooh let me tel you abotu my sisters mate
she rang her dh at work adn asked him if he was busy on firday ( they already had twins) - he said no
she arranged for the wedding at a reg office,
told him he needed to do summat with her ( ?doctor?) and htey got married wiht the kids nad two strangers as witnesses, then rolled hom wiht a bottle of champers and loads of canapes form marks and spencer
sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo COOL

Found this -linl

Here you go - see, can be relatively cheap:

How much does it cost to get married?

Cost of giving notice in advance of a ceremony either at a register office, Approved Premises or in a religious building other than in the Church of England or Church in Wales: £30.00 per person

Cost of register office ceremony: £40.00

Cost of a ceremony on Approved Premises - the cost for attendance by the superintendent registrar and registrar is set by the local authority in question. A further charge is likely to be made by the owners of the building for the use of the premises.

Cost of religious ceremony in the Church of England or Church in Wales � please check fees with the vicar of the church in which you are planning to marry.

Cost of religious ceremony at a building other than Church of England or Church in Wales - unless the building has an Authorised Person - there will be a £47.00 fee for the registrar and there may be further fees charged by the trustees of the building and the person who performs the ceremony.

Cost of marriage certificate: £3.50

So, I work that out at £103.50

I suppose we will have another chat tonight about it and then promply put it on the back burner where it seems to stay.

ahhh. I always liked the kate winslett first marriage. bangers and mash in her parents local pub. she walked to her church from her parents home. (I did the same thing from my home to church and had the same handmade invitations - am shameless copy cat)

We bought 18k gold rings and they were much dearer than the actual wedding.

I think it's the patriarchy thing and all that crap cod. I wouldn't get married but it's useful to have the same rights - we have had to have all sorts of faff about legal bobs because we are not married and dp has no legal status as ds's parent - it's barking.

And how:

Marriages
A civil marriage

Giving notice: overview
It is a legal requirement to give notice of marriage and, once given, your notices of marriage are displayed on the notice board at the register office for a period of fifteen days.

A legal document covered by the Perjury Act 1911, a notice of marriage states for each person:

name and surname
age
condition
address
occupation
nationality
intended marriage venue
After giving notice, you must then wait fifteen clear days before the marriage can take place - for example, if notice is given on 1 July, the ceremony can take place on or after 17 July. Once given, your notice is valid for 12 months.

Please note: the minimum legal age for getting married in England and Wales is 16 years of age but written consent may be required for anyone under 18.

GOD NO
do it do ti doit o o fofornfgofngornfornofg
NOw
go on
suprise him

Like OCD's story and it would be cheap as well!!!