Marriage is the only permissable way IMO for 2 non-blood adults to share the same house. Yes, I'm old-fashioned. I think it's better for any children that might result, I think it makes for a more stable home.

The flipside to that coin is I think of marriage purely as a religious ceremony. I see no need for there to be any paperwork, for the justice of the peace to get involved, whatever. If someday I get married (LOL) I'd want to see if any priest would do the ceremony without the proper paperwork. Marriage is a commitment to me, not a legal contract authorized by the government. It's none of their damn business IMO, but again, I'm old-fashioned.

An extra-legal marriage has the added benefit of being much more financially equal for both parties if/when it dissolves (and most marriages do). Without a legal contract in place, the court system is going to have a much harder time reducing the male to poverty.

If an extra-legal marriage isn't possible, I've heard pre-nups are good protection against messy divorces. Similarly, I've heard that a married couple should have their finances completely separate, again, protection against a messy divorce, mostly for the man.

Adrian