Why does this sound like a quote from a movie?

You know, this is a very sad comment.

How do things work now? I need to know just for clarity's sake.

This could probably be handled in another manner. Unfortunately, I can't think of what that might be.

Are there benefits to these?

This would no doubt backfire on them big time (if it is true).

Acro-nym, right now I think most inheritance laws pass the estate over to blood relatives. I think also, the estate is subject to probate, which appears to be a drawn out process by which the state values your assets, takes a cut, and then passes it out to your relatives. There are some fun stories out there where the significant other was booted out of the house by the decedent's family upon his death. Marriage basically allows your partner the right to inheritance, I think it may also give protection against probate, although I'm not sure about that. To get that same protection, gay couples need to fill out explicit wills or set up beneficiary trusts.

In the case of a health-care emergency, marriage confers the power of the attorny upon to partner to make any decisions on behalf of the afflicted. This includes visitation rights as well. You need a separate document detailing the same if you're not married.

Similarly, there is a financial power of attorney as well. I think marriage also confers this automatically to the partner. This allows the partner to manage the finances, pay mortgages and other bills while the afflicted is incapacitated.

This just covers the absolute essentials, but then you consider that actual marriage really connects two people a whole hell of a lot stronger in the eyes of the law.

http://gaylife.about.com/od/samesexm...a/benefits.htm.

It sounds to me like marriage has too many benefits.

But if both partners are working, do they really need to share health insurance. In today's society, I'm not sure if the benefits are as important as they were decades ago.
If gay people want to get married, I don't understand why they can't. Is there any country that allows gay marriages?

they are just trying to make a point here and hopefully it will spark debate on the whole issue. sexuality is fluid and love is love regardless of whether you are straight gay bi trans...whatever. it needs to recognized that PEOPLE need to be created EQUAL. gay people want the same rights and straight people...it's such a sad world where the rules don't apply to everyone...SAD

Hah, not in dear old Blighty, with our bloody way of life. It makes more economical sense here to be married and then divorce, if you want your kids to have enough money to get by. It doesn't matter how badly in debt you are as a couple, single parents get priority. I guess that's why our kids are reputed as being the most unhappy in Europe, right?

It's a stupid idea. Marriage is for love. There are so many children born out of wedlock in today's society that a law like this is pointless.

Why do marriages exit in the first place? Seriously I don't see the point of a marriage other than the guy and girl make promises that they won't keep forever. Seriously all those ''to love you till my dying day'' crap makes me laugh, it's 80 % obvious that it won't last at his/her dying day, so why bother marry and instead just be boyfriend and girlfriend always.

Duh, because then the courts and lawyers won't make any money when you get divorced.

It really doesn't matter which country you get married if the country you live in doesn't recognize it.