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A heterosexual
married couple receives:
R Access
to Social Security after spouse’s death
R Access
to health insurance through spouse’s workplace1
R The
right to custody of children after divorce
R Joint
parenting rights, such as access to children’s
school records2
R Bereavement
leave after death of a spouse1
R Burial
determination after the death of a spouse
R Sick
leave to care for spouse or non-biological
child1
R Legal
validation of a long-term relationship
R Ability
to live in neighborhoods deemed “families
only”
R Access
to life insurance in spouse’s workplace 1
R Access
to survivor benefits in case of emergency3
R Access
to spouse’s c rime victim’s recovery
benefits
R Ability
to file wrongful death claims
R Right
to shared property, child support and alimony
after divorce
R Ability
to file joint home and auto insurance policies3
R Joint
rental leases with automatic renewal right if
spouse dies or leaves
R Access
to adopting children
R Automatic
inheritance of shared assets after spouse’s
death4
R Automatic
inheritance of retirement savings tax-free
after spouse’s death
R Ability
to file joint tax returns
R Access
to tax breaks for married couples
R Veterans
discounts based on spouse’s armed forces
status
R Assumption
of spouse’s pension benefits after death4
R Ability
to file joint bankruptcy
R Ability
to collect unemployment benefits after
relocating because of spouse’s job
R Ability
to transfer property to spouse without
transfer tax consequences
R Automatic
next-of-kin status for emergency medical
decisions
R Automatic
next-of-kin status for hospital visitation
R Immigration
and residency priority for spouses from other
countries
R Ability
to invoke spousal privilege in a court of
law
R Access
to reduced rate memberships at health clubs,
social clubs, organizations
R Prison
visitation rights
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