Greentext

I'm only going to say that bluntly, the only reason why myself and a few of my friends in long term relationships aren't married, essentially boils down to two things: #1. Getting married is expensive. We're all millennials and most of us are just trying to pay bills. #2. After you've crossed the threshold of "common law" here, there isn't much of a point. Most common law partnerships have the same benefits with few exceptions. The legal/financial benefits of being married are almost entirely covered by being common law, so for the most part getting married is more about the statement of being married (eg, "this is my wife/husband" type thing, though, several unmarried people I know use those terms anyways), and having a wedding to show off or whatever.

The people in my circles tend to value people who stick around out of desire to help eachother than from some vow or perceived obligation because you're married or whatever. We see family the same way, if you're a toxic person and you expect me to put up with your shit because we share more chromosomes than I do with the rest of the population, than you're in for a rude awakening. The strongest bonds I have, are from facing the perils of life, standing along side my friends. We may not be blood relatives, but we're family; these friends have been a better family to me and I to them than their biological brothers/sisters/mothers/fathers.

Bluntly, I don't see how a legal document could make what we already have any better than it already is. That being said, there are some very specific legal benefits in my country to being married vs common law. Because of that, I will eventually sign the paperwork. My SO and I will likely just get it signed at city Hall and throw a big party/reception after.