[tharkun__]

For consideration. Not saying anything for or against here.

    In Québec, both spouses keep their surname after they marry. In other words, you must use the surname you were given at birth to exercise your civil rights, for example

        when you sign a contract,
        or apply for a driver's licence.

    Even if you married outside Québec but you are domiciled in Québec, you must exercise your civil rights using the surname you were given at birth.

    However, in your social life you can, if you wish, use your spouse's surname.
    
    Women married prior to April 2, 1981

        If you are a woman and married prior to April 2, 1981, you are entitled to use your spouse's surname to exercise your civil rights, provided your were already doing so at that date.

        However, if you decide to exercise your civil rights under your own name, you must first notify the relevant departments and agencies.

https://www.justice.gouv.qc.ca/en/couples-and-families/marri...

[nking]

That’s a good compromise, keep both names. And the kids if any can start with the last names of the same sex parent then choose one or the other when they become adult. It’s easy enough to retire these aged concepts. In a way the marriage contract is a technology to be advanced. Perhaps there’s an opportunity for a startup here, marriage 2.0. Trouble is people will see the contract as negotiable from then on. Custom marriage contacts would become the norm leading to new lifestyles, perhaps including communal partnerships, and further, women would have a great deal more leverage depending on which variant of the marriage contract they are willing to accept. Although it could be said their bargaining power would be restored rather than increased since it was clearly taken from them in the past using religious shame tactics.

[tharkun__]

This in only Quebec AFAIK. But FWIW, Canada in general is pretty progressive that way. While actual marriage exists for those that want to, there's no reason to marry just because of tax advantages as there is in other countries. After a relatively short amount of time (a year or something like that) you can apply for a "common-law marriage" status and you basically get all the same things as if you were married.