And some states marry you even if you don’t get married. It’s called common law marriage and you can end up with all the divorce stuff without even having had the wedding.
3 years of cohabitation and joint finances where I live
only difference from marriage is that to get out of a marriage you MUST have a divorce; ending common law relationships leaves a 2-year window where a proceeding can be filed, and will behave like a divorce if filed. but it doesn't have to happen.
