Or living together. Thanks to government, in most Western countries (including the U.S.) even living together binds you to the same or almost the same contract as marrying.
Correct. This is such a terrible thing. I'm coming up on 6th year of living with my girlfriend and I am told that California is also something like this... i.e. if you are living together for 7 or more years (maybe 10, not sure) that it's as if you are married. Terrible!
http://www.npr.org/2016/09/04/487825901/no-you-re-not-in-a-c...
Australia and Canada have common-law relationships that aren't marriage but do involve dividing property in courts.