Prenup - The Benefits of Marriage. Income tax. Social security, medicare and disability benefits. Legal form service online

The Benefits of Marriage

Following is a short list of some of the legal and practical ways that getting married changes your life. Whether or not you like marriage as a social institution, its true that it gives rights, protections and benefits to its participants. These benefits are both legal and practical. They vary from state to state, but in many locations they include:
 
Government Benefits

• Receiving your spouses social security, medicare and disability benefits. Also, veterans' and military benefits for spouses, such as those for education, medical care or special loans;
• Receiving public assistance benefits.

• Joint income tax return filing with the IRS and state taxing authorities.
• Creating a "family partnership" under federal tax laws, which allows you to divide business income among family members.

• Inheritance of a share of your spouse's estate.
• Exemption from taxes (estate and gift) for all property you give or leave to your spouse.
• Creating life estate trusts that are restricted to married couples.
• Obtaining priority if someone is appointed to make financial and/or medical decisions on behalf of your spouse (a conservator).

• Insurance benefits through a spouse's employer.
• Family leave to care for your spouse during an illness.
• Wages, workers' compensation and retirement plan benefits for a deceased spouse.
• Bereavement leave if your spouse or one of your spouses close relatives dies.

• Step-parent or joint adoption.
• tJoint foster care rights.
• Equitable division of property if you divorce.
• Child custody and visitation rights if you divorce.

• Home in neighborhoods zoned for "families only."
• Automatic renewal for leases signed by your spouse.

• Family rates for health, homeowners, auto and other types of insurance.
• Tuition discounts and permission to use school facilities.
• Other consumer discounts and incentives offered only to married couples or families.

• Admission to visit your spouse in a hospital intensive care unit or during restricted visiting hours in other parts of a medical facility.
• Medical decisions for your spouse if he or she becomes incapacitated and unable to express wishes for treatment.

• After-death examinations and procedures for spouse.
• Burial or other final arrangements for spouse.

• Wrongful death suits of your spouse.
• Suit of a third person for offenses that interfere with the success of your marriage, such as alienation of affection.
• Marital communications privilege. A court cant force you to disclose the contents of confidential communications between you and your spouse during your marriage.
• Crime victims' recovery benefits if your spouse is the victim of a crime.
• Domestic violence protection orders.
• Immigration and residency benefits for noncitizen spouse.
• Visiting rights in jails and other places where visitors are restricted to immediate family.

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