Legal marriage is a civil contract established through a license issued by state governments in the United States of America. Legal marriage, more commonly referred to as civil marriage, is a contract between two individuals and the state, which is recognized both socially and politically at all levels of society.
Civil marriage has no impact on a religious organization's autonomy.
It is therefore important to differentiate between civil marriage and religious marriage. We will use the term married to refer to persons who have entered into a legally recognized civil marriage. Married couples are entitled to over 1,000 rights and benefits which are intended to foster the formation and stability of family, promote the well-being of children, and ensure the rights of individuals when families are torn apart by death or divorce. A few examples may help you get a better understanding. In the event of death in a civil marriage, the surviving spouse has not only the right to inherit, but also the right to inherit without paying inheritance taxes.