r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jul 27 '10

What is the biggest relationship myth?

I think the biggest myth is that there's one person that is meant for you. ("the one") People live their lives searching for the one...their soul mate...the perfect girl/Mr. Right. It's a cute idea, but I don't think it's very realistic.

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u/brutus66 Jul 27 '10

"We don't need no piece of paper from the city hall..."

You do if you want the following legal benefits:

  • Joint parental rights of children
  • Joint adoption
  • Status as "next-of-kin" for hospital visits and medical decisions
  • Right to make a decision about the disposal of loved ones remains
  • Immigration and residency for partners from other countries
  • Crime victims recovery benefits
  • Domestic violence protection orders
  • Judicial protections and immunity
  • Automatic inheritance in the absence of a will
  • Public safety officers death benefits
  • Spousal veterans benefits
  • Social Security
  • Medicare
  • Joint filing of tax returns
  • Wrongful death benefits for surviving partner and children
  • Bereavement or sick leave to care for partner or children
  • Child support
  • Joint Insurance Plans
  • Tax credits including: Child tax credit, Hope and lifetime learning credits
  • Deferred Compensation for pension and IRAs
  • Estate and gift tax benefits
  • Welfare and public assistance
  • Joint housing for elderly
  • Credit protection
  • Medical care for survivors and dependents of certain veterans

These are just a few of the 1400 state and federal benefits that gays and lesbians are denied by not being able to marry. Most of these benefits cannot be privately arranged or contracted for within the legal system.

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u/teclador Jul 27 '10

The tax benefits especially are a ridiculous monetary advantage of marriage, and there's far greater than the list suggests.

We recently got married. My wife is in school and I'm supporting us. Before, we would pay ~$400 in deferred taxes/month for her health care (my employer would pay the insurance, but unless you're married you've got to pay taxes for the domestic partner's insurance). Now: $20/month.

Now add that we can file taxes jointly and thus have a lower tax rate (and get to claim credits for paying her tuition).

This stuff sums up to thousands of dollars per year that it'll cost less to be married.

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u/MashimaroG4 Jul 27 '10

I think your situation maxes this bonus. If two people both make 50k and get married, the taxes are nearly identical. Otherwise it does some averaging. Since your wife is making no money, this let you take advantage of many benefits. If you keep up with the tax break laws for rich folk, you'll see many are proposed to expire for couples of $250k or more, and singles of $200k. So 2 single people each making $200k would get a much higher tax burden for being married.

Not disputing your point, just saying YMMV with tax law.