It looks like taxes increase and any kind of post-life planning can be done with a few legal filings rather than getting married. Is there any real benefit? It kinda seems like it’s just a way to trap people in relationships, probably traditionally, the woman.
Just to be clear on the first two points, you can designate anyone as your health care proxy. Check your state for specific applicable forms. In general if no one is designated though it will default to a spouse.
Health care proxy is also different than power of attorney, which sometimes people get confused on.
I’m not sure if America works in the same way but in my country parents can take those. Like you can ask for your unmarried partner to be your NOK but if they fall into a coma or similar then the parents can take that status and block the partner from the hospital.
It doesn’t always happen obviously but it’s happened enough to make the news.
Remember, news typically consists of the noteworthy, not the commonplace. It still sucks if you’re the lucky one to have your privileges removed, though.
Absolutely. Most parents would let your partner in, but for the chance that they don’t? People can go weird with grief, I’d be worried.