Most states define marriage as a civil contract between a man and woman to become husband and wife.
The moment a man and woman marry, their relationship acquires a legal status. The rights and obligations of married persons are not the same as single persons. State and federal laws determine the scope of the married person's new rights and duties. Of course, marriage is a private bond between two people, but it is also an important social institution. Both spouses may work to support the family, the husband may support the wife, or the wife may support the husband.