←back to thread

Half the men in Seattle are never-married singles, census data shows

(www.seattletimes.com)
118 points blondie9x | 1 comments | 13 Apr 25 14:36 UTC | HN request time: 0.219s | source
Show context
betaby ◴[13 Apr 25 15:55 UTC] No.43673696[source]▶
Marriages in the western world is a clear example of the 'overregulation'. And further marriage rate falls, more regulations are added. To the point that in Quebec various forms of cohabitation are considered as a marriage in court. That makes a relationship a serious liability.
replies(2): >>43673731 #>>43673825 #
jeffbee ◴[13 Apr 25 15:59 UTC] No.43673731[source]▶
"Common law marriage" is ... common ... at least under ... common law. Canada, like America, is influenced by the uniquely bad English common law heritage. Even Quebec with its pretend Frankenlaw system that blends civil and common law can't escape the influence.
replies(1): >>43673948 #
nullc ◴[13 Apr 25 16:29 UTC] No.43673948[source]▶
I don't know about other countries but it mostly does not exist in the US. Only 9 states allow one to be created, one of which requires it to be certified by a court. And in those states that do you must intentionally, openly, and conspicuously hold yourself out as married... so the urban legends about accidentally ending up married are just that-- urban legends-- at least in the US.
replies(1): >>43674060 #
1. jeffbee ◴[13 Apr 25 16:44 UTC] No.43674060[source]▶
Well, the beauty of the common law tradition is you, as a hypothetical co-habitator, have no idea whether you are "accidentally married" in any particular regard unless or until the matter comes before a judge for whatever reason. Your aggrieved former not-quite-spouse can make whatever claim to equitable judgement that they can imagine in, say, Colorado. Contrast this with, say, Poland or France, where under their civil traditions there is no chance whatsoever that your unmarried person who lived with you will be able to claim your estate when you have died.