Question 1: What is the point?

Marriage confers a host of legal and practical rights, benefits and protections to an individual, who commits to another.

There are tax benefits, which allow the married to file jointly and claim deductions they couldn't if they were single. Marriage also allows the division of business income in a family partnership under tax laws.

Marriage allows one to inherit their spouse's entire estate without it being touched by federal and state tax laws. If not married, taxes and administrative costs can consume the majority of an estate. Marriage also allows the trensfer of property between spouses, and the creation of life estate trusts, like marital deduction trusts, limited to married peiple.

There are government benefits from a marital status too, involving Social Security, Medicare,veterans benefits for medical care, education and special loans, and publisc assistance.

The benefits from marriage extend to the workplace and include things like medical insurance, family leave, workers' comp, retirement plans, beravement leave.

Marriage also allows a spouse to make medical decisions, and allows for joint or step adoptions, eqof property through divorce and child support. There are benefits from insurance rateds and tuition discounts and other marketplace discounts.

Marriage offers legal protections with privileges and distinct causes of action the marital relationship.

I could go on, but the "point" should be clear.