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Comment by seandoe | Hacker News Reader

My girlfriend and I have been together for several years. We're happy. We're not religious at all. I don't see why we have to declare our relationship commitment to the government. Beyond that, our incomes are similar and after some research it looks as if we would pay more in taxes if we were married. Plus, my girlfriend has substantial student loan debt and is on the public service loan forgiveness track. Her monthly payments are based on her income. If we were married my income would be considered and her payments would go up significantly. So... marriage?

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If it doesn't make sense, don't do it!

The concept isn't hard to get your head around. Businesses draw up similar contracts all the time. You're just expressing a formal mutual accountability. It enables one partner to "safely" make sacrifices (or exploit time preference).

If you don't want to be accountable to each other in a formal way, by all means, keep your relationship informal.

By far, the best response.

>to the government

Marriage has privledges it grants that you may find necessary when you least expect. Medical responsibility is one of them. You don't have a say in their medical treatment if they are unconscious or otherwise unable to make judgements.

I understand not wanting the religious part, and I understand reviewing the cons of marriage and rejecting it, but making it about the 'government knowing' is the least of the problem really.

> but making it about the 'government knowing' is the least of the problem really.

In the case of divorce that actually becomes very important. You now have a judge from the government who is making life decisions for you and your family. Source: grew up in a divorced household.

You can just grant your "partner" medical power of attorney.

As long as you file your taxes separately, you can get married and still have the public service loan payments be based only on her income. (though I think it depends on what kind of payment plan you're on)

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