6 Differences Between Marriage and a Live-In Relationship
4. The involvement of families
When you marry someone, you actually become an essential part of each other’s family. The extent to which the families get involved in the relationship is far greater. On the other hand, cohabitation does not necessarily mean that your families will take too much interest in the relationship and will not be as involved as they would have been if you were married to each other.
5. Chances of infidelity
Studies indicate that those who are in a live-in relationship are more prone to cheating on each other as compared to married couples. A Western Washington University research showed that 20 percent of the cohabiting females engaged in infidelity as opposed to the 4 percent of married women. As per the National Sex Survey, men who are in a live-in relationship are 4 times more likely to cheat than married men. Also, women who are a part of a cohabitation are 8 times more likely to indulge in infidelity than wives.
6. The legal aspects
Unlike those in a live-in relationship, divorcing spouses have to split their property through legal methods. Upon divorce or separation, the higher-earning partner is suppose to give financial support to the other partner. There is no such obligation in cohabitation. Things get even more complicated when you have kids while in a live-in relationship. If you father a child out while living together, then you cannot have legal presumption of paternity. You may need to undergo blood tests and take some legal action.
