> I think that we (everyone) tend to overlook the > legal aspects of marriage going in, but get hit in the > face with them when trying to get out of a marriage. >
yes. however, the protection of it should be available to everyone. If I were married to John, and he died, I would receive his pension. As it is, i won't. that is not fair. he also is not my next of kin and therefore does not have the rights associated with kin. We set up 'power of attorney' for eachother so that either of us is the only one with the right to make decisions on the other's behalf in the case of incapacity. i.e. if either of us are in hospital and very sick, no one, like family, can take over. To me that is very important. Wills have been drawn up,but it couldn't just be straightfroward one-it had ot be watertight and done with a lawyer. We have been together for 21 years this July 7th. The only people we know who have been together longer are another gay couple who were together 40 years. One has just died at 83. Most of the people and couples we know are str8 and most are on their 2nd, 3rd marriages or are single again. We do not know any str8 couples who have been together 21 years or more. Most much less. bw colin
