Changes

'''Civil marriage''' is a legal status defining the legal relationship between two persons (almost universally two persons of opposite sex).  All governments (National, State, County, and City) make some statements about the rights, obligations, duties and privileges for persons who are married. Most commonly, these include [[power of attorney]], [[inheritance]] rights, sharing finances, and rights in relation to any children they may have. With the advent of no-fault divorce, most of these rights and obligations can be terminated by either party at any time for any reason.

'''Civil marriage''' is a legal status defining the legal relationship between two persons (almost universally two persons of opposite sex).  All governments (National, State, County, and City) make some statements about the rights, obligations, duties and privileges for persons who are married. Most commonly, these include [[power of attorney]], [[inheritance]] rights, sharing finances, and rights in relation to any children they may have. With the advent of no-fault divorce, most of these rights and obligations can be terminated by either party at any time for any reason.

 

Civil marriages are not necessarily the same as religious marriages.  In the United States, anyone who is married in a religious ceremony is considered legally married by the state when the proper documents are filed (usually obtaining a marriage license, waiting a specified period of time, and in some cases taking a blood test).  In some European nations, however, a civil marriage ceremony by an officer of the state is required in order for the marriage to be legally recognized, a religious marriage is only for ceremonial purposes.

Civil marriages are not necessarily the same as religious marriages.  In the United States, anyone who is married in a religious ceremony is considered legally married by the state when the proper documents are filed (usually obtaining a marriage license, waiting a specified period of time, and in some cases taking a blood test).  In some European nations, however, a civil marriage ceremony by an officer of the state is required in order for the marriage to be legally recognized, a religious marriage is only for ceremonial purposes.