Not much. If they live together long enough, they will be seen as common-law spouses. Even if they don't, the woman can get 'palimony' if she can show she traded sex for the man's promise of marriage and/or financial support down the road.
I am fortunate to be married almost 15 years and still very deeply in love with my wife. We have been through the wringer together in years gone by and toughed it out. Now things are better than ever, and I couldn't imagine any circumstances that would cause us to be divorced.
Nonetheless, I am sympathetic to the sentiments of the men on 'marriage strike'. The court system has been so tilted against fathers it is sickening. The politicians fall all over themselves to cater to the 'soccer mom' vote. I have seen friends get absolutely reamed in divorce, but even my dear wife sees it as just rewards for what I consider relatively minor offenses. They all watch too much Lifetime channel and our culture is beginning to suffer for it.
There is a sisterhood thing going on here, and until men join together the same way our rights will continue to be trampled.
-ccm
If they live together long enough, they will be seen as common-law spouses.
This varies from state to state. In PA, common-law is not recognized, only a legal mariage (before a JP or a minister) is recognized. The flip-side is that PA is a community property state. Basically, in a divorce, the woman automatically gets half.
We have been through the wringer together in years gone by and toughed it out.
This has been exactly my experience. Marriage is not like business (that can be shut down or merged or sold) or anything else. You have to hang in there and eventually things will get better.
One of my brothers was divorced just a few years after buying a nice house - if his wife had toughed it out with him, the underlying property would be worth at least $50K more today and their money worries would be significantly less, since he would have refinanced from 8.5 to 5.5% interest and thus have hundreds more per month available.
They all watch too much Lifetime channel and our culture is beginning to suffer for it.
Hoo boy, the stuff I could say about that! Let's just say I can't stand even Oprah and leave it at that.
No. Not in my state. It varies by state.
That would be the key to success. Since I didn't and won't find a woman like that, I think I'll just remain single thankyoovurramuch.