contract marriage?

If you get married for the sole purpose of deriving some sort of benefit rather than for love, then it's a sham marriage. If for some reason they (the government) scrutinize you, you won't come out unscathed.

Or the insurance company.

If I was going to do something like this - we would cohabitate. At least for a decent period of time.

There is a board for Debatable Debating. I recommend you go to that group.

I feel like a lot of peoples morals and ideals and maybe even religious beliefs are coming into play here.
So the government gives perks to two people who get married. Why? Because they love each other? Why should the government care?
If you choose to marry (partner up with someone for government perks) that's on you. You better trust the person you choose, but I wouldn't think any less of someone for it.
Yes, it's fraud. Don't get caught. Just because something is illegal doesn't necessarily make it morally wrong.

"That burden would be on the govt to prove what your intent was"
Funny how that is what it all boils down to.
If I walked in to a court house right now and married a random homeless person, no one would question my motive.
But if I walked in to a court house right now with someone who was wealthy with fantastic insurance and married them, it would be drawn in to question.
Yet people quickie marry in Vegas while drunk and no one cares

Nobody cares about who you marry, until they have to shell out money because of it, or give you something for it. The government doesn't care if you marry on paper only as long as you don't derive any tax or support benefit, neither does the insurance company.

If you marry a random stranger and not get anything out of it, nobody cares, really.

Nope.. Couldn't do it..

I feel like a lot of peoples morals and ideals and maybe even religious beliefs are coming into play here.
So the government gives perks to two people who get married. Why? Because they love each other? Why should the government care?
If you choose to marry (partner up with someone for government perks) that's on you. You better trust the person you choose, but I wouldn't think any less of someone for it.
Yes, it's fraud. Don't get caught. Just because something is illegal doesn't necessarily make it morally wrong.

nope it isn't illegal...unless you are getting married for immigration status...as american citizens you can marry anyone you want that isn't a blood relation (as defined in the contract). Marriage is civil...and legally binding...a spiritual marriage in a religion is different..that is why the catholics can get divorced, but also need to annul their spiritual bond through the church. So many people don't understand this. *sigh*...the government doesn't give a crap if you are in love or not it has no bearing on the legality of the marriage. ONLY if it grants immigration status.

seriously people.

If you found yourself in an unfortunate situation, would you contract marry someone?

For example, you have a health problem and a friend of yours has fantastic insurance (that also treats old/standing issues). Would you marry them for their insurance if you two agreed - living separate lives as friends only?

Meaning: you can file taxes together, live in different states, no sex between you two, be in a committed relationship with someone else, vacation separately, workout together, etc. Basically, you'd be completely platonic, but legally married.

Why not? Marriage by law is a legal document anyway. Just getting married by religion, etc. doesn't legally show marriage. Same with divorce.

It's a contract. Only thing I'd include is a prenup so neither tries to hose the other.

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I feel like a lot of peoples morals and ideals and maybe even religious beliefs are coming into play here.
So the government gives perks to two people who get married. Why? Because they love each other? Why should the government care?
If you choose to marry (partner up with someone for government perks) that's on you. You better trust the person you choose, but I wouldn't think any less of someone for it.
Yes, it's fraud. Don't get caught. Just because something is illegal doesn't necessarily make it morally wrong.

How is it fraud? You entered into a legal contract with another person. There's no 'love, honor, and obey' that *has* to be part of a marriage ceremony, and really, so long as you pass the blood test and the person isn't your first cousin (not applicable in some states) the people handing out the license couldn't probably care less about how you conduct your affairs afterward.

I'd say it's fraud because of the way marriage is currently understood in the United States. When I got married at the City Clerks office, pretty much the most clinical way possible, we were expected to hold hands and there was a speech about all of the "love, honor, obey" stuff as part of the official ceremony. Even if you or I believe it should be a legal contract, that's not how the general populace sees it, or even the government. If it were a legal contract, ther'd be no reason to exclude men. But as it stands, it's based in Christianity.

If you found yourself in an unfortunate situation, would you contract marry someone?

For example, you have a health problem and a friend of yours has fantastic insurance (that also treats old/standing issues). Would you marry them for their insurance if you two agreed - living separate lives as friends only?

Meaning: you can file taxes together, live in different states, no sex between you two, be in a committed relationship with someone else, vacation separately, workout together, etc. Basically, you'd be completely platonic, but legally married.

I don't see an issue. As long as you're both OK with the idea (as in, blackmail and other fun stuff isn't involved), then sure. I don't think it's fraud ... most insurance that I'm aware of doesn't require you to actually live together and could care less if you actually "love" the other person. Obviously, you want to be upfront with any potential REAL relationships and let them know. I can see that being a dealbreaker though for the people you might actually be interested in.

This is clearly a USA problem...my man and my step-child are under my insurance, we aren't married, the kid isn't legally mine...i can put who ever the hell I want under my insurance. Yet again, makes me super happy I don't live in the States.

I contracted marriage once.

It's a horrible disease and extremely difficult to get rid of.

A lot of people marry for a variety of reasons, some marry for money, some marry for a trophy spouse, some marry for image, and some do marry for love. I don't think the government gives a rats *kitten* if you marry for love. If you are married and its a legal marriage be it a civil union or religious ceremony then it is not illegal to give your partner benefits.

While someone may disapprove of this morally, how many people married for love and like the OP and stay together when they fall out of love for financial reasons, for the children, because they cant afford to separate or divorce, they have too much invested to walk away so stay legally married yet live completely separate lives. Tons of people so this, its not illegal.

I personally couldn't marry anyone if I wasn't in love with them, any more than I could be intimate with anyone without being in love with them, so its a mute point for me. To each their own. I don't judge.

If you get married for the sole purpose of deriving some sort of benefit rather than for love, then it's a sham marriage. If for some reason they (the government) scrutinize you, you won't come out unscathed.

Gold diggers everywhere just hissed in unison.

No. Call me an idealist, but I have much higher hopes than that for marriage.