Today, more and more couples choose to live together without registration. Such a relationship is often called a civil marriage, although in general the term refers to an official, a registered marriage rather than cohabitation.

According to the statistics, which for many years were collected in a number of Western countries, between 2006 and 2010 48% of heterosexual women were cohabiting. In 2002, the figure was 43%, in 1995 - 34%. Only 23% of women were married to men at the moment when they began to live together; in 2002, these women were 30%, in 1995 - 39%. Sociologists say the trend is clear: the number of people who do not believe the official marriage a prerequisite for living together, is growing.

In Russia, in 2011 the average age of marriage for men was twenty-seven years, women - twenty-five; the difference with Western Europe small: here the men concluded the first official marriage, on average, twenty-eight years, women - at twenty-six. Both in Russia and in Europe, this age is increasing and has now reached its absolute maximum. However, this does not mean that people are increasingly abandoning marriage entirely: about 40% of couples after a few years of living in a civil marriage officially register their relationship.

The benefits of civil marriage

• The ability to test their feelings and find a better partner .  Most people who live in a civil marriage, called this particular cause, if you ask them why they do not want to enter into a formal marriage .  Indeed, feelings for the person whom you see from time to time on a date - this one, but the feeling to someone who shares with you a living space - is quite another .  Civil marriage makes it possible to identify all or almost all the unpleasant habits of the partner for you and see how well you get along in the same apartment .  Because of these seemingly small things, how different biorhythms (if one partner - the owl, and the other - a lark), different principles of power (this is especially important if one of the partners is a strong supporter of a vegetarian or vegan diet), dislike or excessive love of order marriage may eventually collapse, and many people rightly believe that part with the roommate will be much easier than with the official spouse .  Of course, it does not need to rely on the fact that for a year or two sharing you fully explore a partner, but a civil marriage can actually get rid of many unpleasant surprises after the wedding .
• The ability to spend more time together. When the partners are living in different places, because of the tight schedule, they may be difficult to find enough time for each other - unless they are neighbors. Living in an apartment gives you the opportunity to talk to each other much of his free time and eliminates the need to drive across town to meet up with loved ones.
• Savings. There is obvious benefit: people who live in cohabiting relationships, may be taken together to pay for an apartment, the overall money to buy furniture and household appliances, to take vacations, and so on.
• Freedom. Civil marriage is often preferred by people who appreciate the freedom in the broadest sense. They do not always live in an open relationship, voluntarily engaging in sexual relations with third parties; Rather, they prefer to be free of formalities, customs and not depend on public opinion, which in the 21st century continues to talk about the necessity of marriage. Such people are usually - nonconformists, though somewhat unconventional outlook on life did not prevent them from building a harmonious, stable relationship.

Disadvantages of civil marriage

• Lack of confidence in the partner. For some people - usually women - only a formal marriage is a guarantee that the partner is willing to take responsibility for the family. Therefore, people who prefer a civil marriage, can cause mistrust, and this is not conducive to a happy life together.
• Inconsistency religious foundations. If human life plays an important role religion, it can be considered a civil marriage sinful and utterly unacceptable. Young people are now rarely build their lives in strict accordance with religious dogmas, but they may face rejection of premarital relations with the religious family.
• The increased likelihood of divorce. According to statistics, a couple who before the wedding took place in a civil marriage Civil marriage - it just dies? , Get divorced more often than those who start to live together only after the official registration of relations.
• Lack of effect of novelty. People living in a civil marriage, get used to each other before the wedding, and after it they can hardly expect the euphoria typical suite, previously lived together. They do not have to wake up in the morning for the first time in the common house, the first time to eat breakfast in the communal kitchen, and in the first month to enjoy mind two toothbrushes in the bathroom. On the other hand, they will be relieved of some unpleasant surprises after the wedding.

Rules for living in a civil marriage

• Pre talk about their expectations. If you expect that your partner will ask you to enter into a legal marriage in a few months of living together, tell him about it in advance. Perhaps he one of those people who do not want to register the relationship, and this must be said in advance.
• Talk about children. Even before the start of cohabitation is necessary to find out when you and your partner want (and you want if at all) have children, and do you consider admissible to give birth in a civil marriage.
• Do not mix one bank account. No matter how you liked nor trusted her civilian husband, it is not necessary to issue a power of attorney to him to use his account. Generally, this is not worth doing, and for the official spouses, unmarried but such generosity can be especially dangerous.
• Do not become a guarantor for the civilian spouse. If you complete a civil marriage is quite easy, terminate the relationship with the bank, if something goes wrong, it will be much harder.
• Make the acquisition of securities in their own name. Of course, the very wealthy and generous people can give their civilian spouses apartment or car, but most people need to think about what they will, if the civil marriage is over.

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