What is the difference between marriage and living together?

i live with my bf and people on YA always say that you are more committed if you are married? what the hell would change if i married him? what is the difference besides the fact that you are legally bound and it is harder to separate?What is the difference between marriage and living together?
It's very much the same, but also completely different.





Marriage is for when you've found the one that you want to spend the rest of your life with, I always thought marriage was a crock, till I found the one.





It's a beautiful thing, there's greater commitment, intimacy, trust. It's the assurance that no matter what struggles you come across, whatever battles you have to fight, that you wont be fighting alone, there will always be someone who loves you by your side. That during the good times, there is someone who loves you sharing your happiness. Loving someone so much, that you're willing to stand by them, in sickness in health, good times and bad.





There is no guarentee that when the going gets tough, the BF/GF isn't going to run for the hills... but your husband/wife has vowed to be there and tough out what ever troubles lie ahead, along side you.





There is safety in that but also more, the knowledge that another person loves you so much, and you them, that they will travel the road of life with you, no matter the bumps or where it leads.





It's just a much deeper commitment.


And that is why it is harder to seperate. There are also special legal rights, and tax breaks.


What is the difference between marriage and living together?
Not much, but you seem to be pointing it at my answer because that is what I said. It is easy to just break up, but harder to divorce. Then it is also a whole different level, dating and marriage. Yes, you live together, but that doesn't show you are more committed or not, marriage shows you are totally committed to each other *well like I said: hopefully.* Once again I have to say: With the marriage peoples I am talking about, I'm talking about people who stay together until they die, no divorces, romance is strong through the whole marriage, all that. Yes, it strangely does exist.





Achem, it is not just a piece of paper!!!!! Sorry, had to say that to the people who said it was just a piece of paper. Marriage is so much more than that. Now, I can bet you anything: the people who say marriage is just a piece of paper and that the piece of paper is what means a lot, those are the people who get divorces. Achem, thanks for the edit.
I find it hard to understand too. I mean my bf and I have lived together for almost 2 years now, and I dont believe that marriage would change anything. We are already commited, we already love each other, we are dedicated to being partners and leading our life together. I think getting married would just be an extra bonus. I also think it would be naive and silly to believe that marriage is what would bring 2 people together and may lead a lot of people to be disappointed with marriage.
Marriage to me is for two people to vow their undying love for one another and to be committed through out everything that may come their way.





It's just a ritual, but it is also a state contract. You can get married without it being recognized by the state, but you don't get the same protection or perks.





Also, I think the people on yahoo answers knows how easy it would be for your boyfriend to just up and leave you, but with a paper, that makes it much harder and makes him responsible for you. So without that paper, he isn't bound to you in any way other than what he says.





And we all know how much credit words have.
There are lots of sayings like ';why buy the cow if the milk is so cheap.'; ';There's a right way and a wrong way.';etc. There is more to it than that. First if you have any religious feeling you know that it's just wrong. Isn't it better if your children s parents are married? Lots of people these days are letting themselves in for a lot of problems because they just refuse to do what is right. Your question should be why live with someone who doesn't care enough to make that kind of commitment to you? Sorry didn't mean to preach. It's your life.
Ever wonder why he doesn't want to commit legally? Face the facts he is wanting to keep his options open just in case that ';something better comes along';. Matter of fact you stated it yourself.. you don't want to be legally bound cause it will be harder (more expensive) to separate. I guess you are keeping your options open too.





It amazes me that the very people who don't want that little marriage license are the same ones that are running to the courts when things go south... ';he got me pregnant.. I need money';, ';she left me with the rent';, ';he took my tv';.





I don't believe in God or organized religion. Yet I would never shack up with a man. I have too much respect. My experience men agree to the shack up for easy assessable sex and a housekeeper. Women agree to shack up for cheap rent and to keep an eye on ';their man';.





The real problem comes when the girl doesn't take care of the birth control issue and she ';accidentally'; gets pregnant (snicker snicker). Now we have another unwed mother on our hands and I bet you more times then not the guy hits the road.






A lot of people on this site are very religious or traditional and that piece of paper means a lot to them.





Though in some places married couples do have different rights and benefits to de factos. I know that isn't the case where I live though, it's the same between married couples and de facto couples.





Harriet
A contract and some money is what the difference is.





Divorce sucks. I went through it earlier this year because my marriage fell apart, and had been falling apart for years.





Marriage doesn't create ';better commitment';; it makes it harder to get out!





Do what is best for you and your boyfriend. Get married, or don't. There is no perfect solution for every couple.
You're absolutely right. If anything I think it's MORE of a commitment to stay together because you want to, rather than because of the threat of divorce.





These ';if you're not married you don't really love each other'; types wind me up no end.



Honestly - the difference is a ring and a piece of paper.





I can't understand how ppl think marriage is like the ';relationship maker'; My aunty and uncle have been living together for nearly 23 years and only recently got married.
There is no difference between being boyfriend/girlfriend and being married. The main differences come into play when man and woman begin to raise a family together. The rest is just work and play time.
One word that means allot........ Commitment !


First comes love, then comes marriage then comes juinor in the baby carriage :).
Paper
a ring