Some unmarried couples believe that marriage is nothing more than a piece of paper to bind them together. Unfortunately for them, marriage functions as much more than that in our society. If you would prefer to stay unmarried yet in a committed relationship, consider the problems unmarried couples have. You may find that the trade-offs for financial security and custody battles make it more convenient to be married. Financial Financially, being an unmarried couple has its hurdles. For instance, if you want to purchase a home together, you'll need to do so with a written contract of the terms and conditions, and a determination of what happens to the home if you break up. You'll need to purchase as a "co-ownership," notes BankRate.com, which can be difficult to dissolve if the need arises. It's best to keep finances and expenses separate unless you're married, and make sure that all of your contracts and agreements are in writing, warns MoneyUnder30.com. Medical Your rights if your partner becomes ill or dies are diminished as an unmarried partner rather than a spouse. If your partner is in the hospital and plans are being made for care, the decision will be placed on the head of the nearest blood relative if your partner is unmarried, notes Caswell Legal. This could cause problems if you aren't close with your partner's family, as you will have no say in your partner's care. What's more, depending on the laws in your country, you could be barred by your partner's family from seeing your partner in the hospital. You'll also need to plan for your partner's death. Unless stipulated in a will, you will not be the beneficiary of the estate; your partner's family will receive everything. Thorough estate planning with the help of a lawyer can help you create a will that lists each other as beneficiaries in the event of death. Custody If you have children when you are unmarried, you may face custody problems should you break up. Consumer Affairs notes that unless a parent is being abusive or neglectful, parental rights will not be terminated, and you are responsible for arranging a custodial agreement that is in the best interests of your children. You can file for custody of your children, but, in general, time with both parents will be considered desirable. Child support may be required from the parent who spends less time with the children, no matter whether you were married or not. Security From an emotional standpoint, unmarried couples may feel less secure than those who are married. Others may downplay your relationship because you remain unmarried, and you might feel as though you can walk away from the relationship any time you want. Unfortunately, this can affect your children and families. Also, if you break up without the finality of a divorce, you may never get true closure from your relationship, warns Mediate-Divorce.com. Source: livestrong.com