From: Judy Folkenberg 

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Gary Wiltshire wrote:

>
> >>2) I'd rather get the government OUT of marriage altogether.  Once
> upon a time marriage was a matter between the spouses-to-be and
> whatever religion they subscribed to.  Many, many pioneers went out
> west and considered themselves married when no clergy was available or
> relevent.  I'd rather see "marriage" handled by legal contracts,
> wills, powers-of-attorney, etc.

You know France (bless those dear French people) have come up with a legal
alternative to marriage.  It was in the NY Times about a month ago.
Basically, as I remember, the couple goes to some government bureau and
state that they are living together as a couple.  This means that health
benefits can accure from one partner to another, and there's also some
provisions concerning disbursement of goods should one partner die.  There
are other provisions that I can't remember.  Should the couple decide to go
their separate ways, the partnership is very easy to dissolve and does not
involve divorce lawyers or great expense.

France originally enacted the legislation to allow homosexual couples some
legal status as a couple.  What has come as a surprise is how many
hetersexual couples are using this law to proclaim their coupledom.

Judy




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