What are the legal benefits of marriage?

A few are:

Tax breaks

Automatic inheritance

Death benefits

Right to make decisions for partner if they were incapacitated

Access to health insurance, etc thru partner's employer

...there are many more..benefits a spouse has access to that a boyfriend or girlfriend (non-married partner) does not.

There are definitely practical reasons to marry (or consider marrying), and not just because a couple is 'in love'...

Here are some I can think of off the top of my head. There are 1400 of them - here are just a few:

1.Joint parental rights of children

2.Joint adoption

3.Status as "next-of-kin" for hospital visits and medical decisions

4.Right to make a decision about the disposal of loved ones remains

5.Immigration and residency for partners from other countries

6.Crime victims recovery benefits

7.Domestic violence protection orders

8.Judicial protections and immunity

9.Automatic inheritance in the absence of a will

10.Public safety officers death benefits

11.Spousal veterans benefits

12.Social Security

13.Medicare

14.Joint filing of tax returns

15.Wrongful death benefits for surviving partner and children

16.Bereavement or sick leave to care for partner or children

17.Child support

18.Joint Insurance Plans

19.Tax credits including: Child tax credit, Hope and lifetime learning credits

20.Deferred Compensation for pension and IRAs

21.Estate and gift tax benefits

22.Welfare and public assistance

23.Joint housing for elderly

24.Credit protection

25.Medical care for survivors and dependents of certain veterans

Peace.

man would work for money, kid, if your an illegal immigrant then you cud legally gain citizenship!

if you are a woman, its everything.

if you are a man ,it's nothing