What will be different after the wedding?
Many queer couples have been waiting, hoping and finally fulfilling a big dream: getting married. But what does the famous "Yes, I do!"?
Of course, in any case, it is to be hoped that love will remain the same and that one's relationship will become further proof that it is possible to be happy for the rest of one's life. But: As bureaucratic as it may sound, it is also important to deal with other "framework conditions".
Note: The following list is not exhaustive, but highlights some important areas of focus.
Change No. 1: The tax aspect
An absolute classic! The income tax can now be assessed together. In this way, it is often possible to save money. For example, it is possible to make full use of the basic tax allowances. As a result, the tax rates are reduced. The whole thing is particularly worthwhile if one partner earns significantly more than the other.
Change No. 2: Inheritance
If one spouse dies, the other is automatically entitled to inherit. He or she receives half of the inheritance. The other half goes to the children (if any belong to the family). Deviations from this are only legitimate if they have been officially stipulated in a will. It is then possible, for example, to give the partner or the children a higher percentage.
Change No. 3: Information related to illness, death, etc.
Admittedly: No one really wants to think about this, but marriage also changes things in terms of rights to information in connection with the illness and death of a partner. The spouse officially belongs to the circle of relatives and is therefore entitled to be provided with information.
But beware! In the first step, this is really only about information. More far-reaching decisions must be clarified via a living will. Here it is advisable to talk to each other at an early stage in order to know what to do in an emergency - for example in connection with a sudden accident or similar.
Change No. 4: The name
This is certainly the most striking detail - at least in the first step: A partner changes the name! Really? Always? No. Nowadays it is also no problem to keep one's own name and continue signing as before.
However, if you want to change your name, you should create a small "checklist". After all, a name change involves a lot of work. Among other things, a new identity card and a new driver's license must be applied for, and usually a new e-mail address must also be created. There are many lists of this kind on the Internet, most of which form a good basis for the correspondingly necessary actions.
Change No. 5: The pension
At some point, it is time for retirement. Anyone who is married is affected by pension equalization. Here, the partners' entitlements are added together, then divided by 2 again and divided.
Is it even worth getting married?
Certainly, many people think that it seems inappropriate to even ask this question. But why not? Anyone who is concerned with tax rates, pension entitlements and the like can also ask themselves whether it wouldn't be at least as romantic to continue living in a "wild marriage.
The question can certainly only be answered by everyone for themselves. Listening to the heart and gut feeling is probably better than dealing exclusively with statistics. These show that the divorce rate (in connection with ALL marriages that are concluded in Germany) is currently rising again.
Whether or to what extent this is due to the lockdown can certainly only be conjectured. The fact is, however, that the divorce rate, according to statistics, was just under 39 percent in 2020. By 2018, it had fallen continuously since 2011. But as is so often the case, it is also said here: Everyone writes their own story.
Did you know that Malik Harris will compete for Germany at the ESC?