[jonkho]

They literally paying to go to the clink. Nothing that a marriage license permits you to do that you can’t do without one. Except you can be liable to get sued when the relationship ends. Literally the only differentiator of significance.

[closewith]

That depends on where you live. In some places parental rights are linked to marriage.

[jonkho]

You have parental rights even without marriage, in America and the western world.

[closewith]

No, that's not true. As I said, that depends on where you live. For example, in Ireland, for children born outside of marriage, only the mother has an automatic right to guardianship. The same is true in the UK unless the father is added to the birth certificate. The same is true in most US States - no automatic parental rights without marriage.

[CalRobert]

You can get a visa more easily.

[jonkho]

As an American, it’s pretty much visa-free everywhere - and my comment is directed towards Americans.

[CalRobert]

I am an American (living abroad), and while your comment is technically correct, permission to remain long term and work in a country is one of the benefits to a legal marriage.

[hackideiomat]

It's good for taxes here to be married officially

[jonkho]

50% chance you will divide everything. Risk a dollar to pick up pennies. Risk vs reward.