The typical married couple in America receives over 160 benefits and rights by virtue of their union. It seems ironic that a heterosexual couple married for one hour, has more rights and benefits than a same-sex couple that has been together for 30 years. The following is only a sample of some of the rights and benefits provided by legal marriage.
Note: Marriage benefits are granted on a state by state basis, and may differ from one state to the next.
- Insurance benefits through a spouses employer
- Insurance discounts offered to married couples and related persons living in same household
- Government benefits such as Social Security and Medicare
- Veterans/military benefits offered to spouses (education, medical care, housing loans)
- Income tax deductions, credits and exemptions
- Tax relief for natural disaster losses
- Immigration of foreign partners
- Witness and court testimony rights
- Continuation of lease rights (renewal of lease)
- Community property rights
- Inheritance rights
- Payment of wages for deceased partners and workers compensation benefits
- Right to enter into pre-marital agreement
- Automatic rights of survivorship
- Consent to post-mortem examination
- Right to make burial arrangements
- Bereavement leave for partner, child, or partner's close relative
- Family leave to care for partner or child during illness
- Right to make decisions in medical emergencies ( "next of kin")
- Visitation rights for partner or child in hospital or other public institutions
- Custodial rights for a seriously injured partner
- Right to file a wrongful death suit
- Tuition discounts/use of facilities
- Company benefits/perks offered to spouses
- Commercial discounts/incentives offered only to married couples or families
- Joint child custody, adoption and foster care rights
- Equitable divison of property, child custody, visitation rights and support in the case of divorce
- The right to obtain domestic violence protection orders