"Individuals may marry for several reasons, including legal, social, libidinal, emotional, financial, spiritual, political, and religious purposes."
Legal recognition of a committed relationship between two individuals and the rights and obligations that flow from it.
Marriage laws: Laws that govern the legal recognition and dissolution of marriages.
Marriage ceremonies and customs: Cultural and religious practices surrounding marriage.
Property division: Laws regarding the division of property in case of divorce.
Child custody laws: Laws regarding who gets custody of children in case of divorce.
Spousal support: Laws regarding financial support for a former spouse after divorce.
Prenuptial agreements: Legal agreements made before marriage that can protect assets and define expectations in case of divorce.
Same-sex marriage laws: Laws governing the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.
Domestic violence: Laws and policies aimed at preventing and addressing domestic violence in marriages and families.
Divorce mediation: A process of resolving disputes during a divorce outside of court.
Adoption laws: Laws regarding adoption of children into families.
Reproductive rights: Laws regarding reproductive health and the right to access contraception and abortion.
Family planning: Policies and practices for planning and spacing children.
Paternity laws: Laws regarding establishing legal fatherhood and parental rights and responsibilities.
Foster care policies: Policies and practices for caring for children who cannot live with their biological families.
Grandparent visitation rights: Laws governing the rights of grandparents to visit their grandchildren.
International marriage and family law: Laws and policies governing international marriages and families.
Parental rights and responsibilities: Laws and policies outlining the legal rights and responsibilities of parents toward their children.
Surrogacy and assisted reproduction: Laws and policies regarding surrogacy and other forms of assisted reproduction.
Monogamous marriage: This is a marriage where a person is married to only one person at a time.
Polygamous marriage: This is a marriage where a person is married to more than one person at a time.
Polyandrous marriage: This is a marriage where a woman is married to more than one husband at a time.
Polygynous marriage: This is a marriage where a man is married to more than one wife at a time.
Same-sex marriage: This is a marriage between two people of the same sex.
Common-law marriage: This is a marriage where a couple has been living together for a certain length of time and are recognized as being married by the state.
Arranged marriage: This is a marriage where the families of the bride and groom arrange the marriage.
Forced marriage: This is a marriage where one or both of the spouses are forced into the marriage against their will.
Proxy marriage: This is a marriage where one or both of the spouses are not physically present at the wedding but are represented by someone else.
Covenant marriage: This is a marriage where the couple agrees to a specific set of rules and vows that are more binding than traditional marriage vows.
Group marriage: This is a marriage where multiple people are all married to each other.
Civil marriage: This is a marriage that is recognized and given legal status by the state.
Religious marriage: This is a marriage that is recognized and given religious status by a specific religion.
Open marriage: This is a marriage where the couple agrees to allow each other to have sexual relationships outside of the marriage.
Interracial marriage: This is a marriage between people of different races.
Interfaith marriage: This is a marriage between people of different faiths.
Child marriage: This is a marriage where one or both of the spouses are under the legal age of consent.
Annulled marriage: This is a marriage that is legally voided or canceled, as if it never occurred.
Separation marriage: This is a marriage where the couple is legally married but living apart.
Covenantal union: This is a marriage-like relationship that is recognized by some states for same-sex couples who cannot legally marry.
"It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between them and their in-laws."
"It is nearly a cultural universal."
"But the definition of marriage varies between cultures and religions, and over time."
"A marriage ceremony is called a wedding."
"In some cultures, marriage is recommended or considered to be compulsory before pursuing any sexual activity."
"Arranged marriage, child marriage, polygamy, coverture, and forced marriage are practiced, while others outlaw them to protect human rights."
"Around the world, there has been a general trend towards ensuring equal rights for women and legally recognizing the marriages of interfaith, interracial/interethnic/inter-caste, and same-sex couples."
"Debates persist regarding the legal status of married women, leniency towards violence within marriage, customs such as dowry and bride price, marriageable age, and criminalization of premarital and extramarital sex."
"Female age at marriage has proven to be a strong indicator for female autonomy and is continuously used by economic history research."
"Marriage can be recognized by a state, an organization, a religious authority, a tribal group, a local community, or peers."
"A religious marriage is performed by a religious institution to recognize and create the rights and obligations intrinsic to matrimony in that religion."
"Religious marriage is known variously as sacramental marriage in Catholicism, nikah in Islam, nissuin in Judaism, and various other names in other faith traditions."
"Each [faith tradition] has their own constraints as to what constitutes, and who can enter into, a valid religious marriage."
"Typically, [marriage] is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually sexual, are acknowledged or sanctioned."
"Legal, social, libidinal, emotional, financial, spiritual, political, and religious purposes."
"It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between them and their in-laws."
"It is often viewed as a contract."
"Debates persist regarding the legal status of married women, leniency towards violence within marriage."
"Arranged marriage, child marriage, polygamy, coverture, and forced marriage are practiced."