Marital status creates various legal rights, obligations and liabilities.
The laws of each individual state determine the specific financial and personal duties a married couple will have during their marriage and after separation or divorce. In some states, marriage will create ownership rights in property obtained both during and prior to the marriage. It is common for a divorcing couple to decide about dividing their property and debts themselves, rather than leave it to the judge. But if a couple cannot agree, they can submit their property dispute to the court, which will use state law to divide the property. Division of property does not necessarily mean a physical division.