Why get married?

[glub]

In a heterosexual marriage:

What are the advantages for men?
What are the advantages for women?

Ie why on earth bother? I've had a Google but not come up with much.
I'll say that so far I reckon that registering our coupledom would give us a few quid in tax advantages and for me recognise with his money if we were to split up my input into childcare and my restricted earning potential.
But for him? He sees it as a lose lose situation. Reckons his money would go straight to the kids anyway and would rather do without the probably minor tax benefits than go through a divorce and lose a lot more. And apparently hospitals now recognise partners as next of kin is that right?
Please help.
Ps don't mention love! Love exists without laws and contracts! Or is it a loving gift to the wife to trust her with his money making potential?
Equality...pah... Or is marriage and the associated divorce law the leveller? I guess that's another topic altogether though!

I didn't think marriage would make any difference, but it really did, in a way that I can't quite articulate (not helpful, I'm afraid!)

I'm not married, through conscious choice on both of our behalf.

But I swear, if there was a difference in our income and DP ever said to me that he wouldn't marry me and therefore legally protect me, his partner and the mother of his child, and provide legal financial support if I felt that I was in a situation where I needed it, he'd be out on his ear.

I'm married, but tbh, if I went back in time I wouldn't bother.
I find it an outdated notion, and, frankly, a little uncool .

At the moment, a marriage certificate makes an awful lot of decisions and conditions and consequences automatic. Inheritance, property rights while together and if you split, decision making should the other be incapacitated, even your ability to emigrate if the others career involves such things.

Yes, you can sort these things out, bit by bit as you think of them, if they come up. But decisions made just between the two of you may not be enforcable if the other changes their mind and may be very costly to prove in court. Or, you can just go sign the register and sail on without having to constantly think about things.

There is a real reason why Gays have wanted these rights. Heteros, especially women, shouldnt too easily skip past the registrars office because a partner doesnt see (or says they dont see) a real need. Dont be hood winked.

What tax breaks for being married? On the radio yesterday it was said there aren't any at the moment.

Since when was marriage supposed to be cool?

There are a few tax advantages but they are not 'breaks' exactly and they don't currently apply to income tax allowances. Unused capital gains tax allowance, however. If you have a spouse and some capital to dispose of which will attract CGT, the title can be transferred and they can take advantage of their allowance. The biggest one is inheritance tax. If an unmarried partner dies with an estate valued over the threshold, the surviving partner is potentially liable for IHT. A spouse or civil partner isn't.

We married ten days before DH died as I was pregnant and needed to be able to register baby as his. What I didn't realise is that marriage made me entilted to Widowed Parents Allowance - 500 pounds a month. unmarried I'd get no help in raising two under five's with no father. Disgusting isn't it?

Itsfab I clearly have distorted values.

Its not that marriage is meant to be cool, but I am starting to feel middle aged and distinctly staid.

Sorry if I'm being frivolous.

The fact that I couldn't use my OH tax free allowance used to annoy the hell out of me. It used to feel like we were being penalised for her staying at home to look after the kids.

Mind you I wouldn't use it as an argument to get married.