Federal Marriage Rights

35 of the 1138 rights of married people
under federal law

GAO report with full list of 1138 federal marriage rights

1. Access to Social Security after spouse's death
2. Access to health insurance through spouse's workplace
3. The right to custody of children after divorce
4. Visitation rights for non-biological children
5. Joint parenting rights, such as access to children's school records
6. Bereavement leave after death of a spouse
7. Burial determination after the death of a spouse
8. Domestic violence intervention
9. Sick leave to care for spouse or non-biological child
10. Legal validation of a long-term relationship
11. Ability to live in neighborhoods deemed "families only"
12. Access to life insurance in spouse's workplace
13. Access to survivor benefits in case of emergency
14. Access to spouse's crime victims' recovery benefits
15. Ability to file wrongful death claims
16. Right to shared property, child support, and alimony after divorce
17. Ability to file joint home and auto insurance policies
18. Joint rental leases with automatic renewal rights if spouse dies or leaves
19. Access to adopting children
20. Automatic inheritance of share assets after spouse's death
21. Automatic inheritance of retirement savings tax-free after spouse's death
22. Automatic exemption of property tax increases on shared assets gained after spouse's death
23. Ability to file joint tax returns
24. Access to tax breaks for married couples
25. Veterans discounts based on spouse's armed forces status
26. Assumption of spouse's pension after death
27. Ability to file joint bankruptcy
28. Ability to collect unemployment benefits after leaving a job to relocate because of spouse's job move
29. Ability to transfer property from one spouse to another without transfer tax consequences
30. Access to fostering children
31. Automatic next-of-kin status for emergency medical decisions and hospital visitation status
32. Immigration and residency priority for spouses from other countries
33. Ability to invoke spousal privilege in a court of law
34. Access to reduced rate memberships at health clubs, social clubs, organizations
35. Prison visitation rights

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