Prenuptials aren't recognised by the courts. They will take them into consideration but they don't have to enforce them.

Yeah if they've got all that money in the first place - why not share!

That's true, but it doesn't mean that the relationship will end. And I think you're exaggerating the extent to which people change.

It would have to be a pretty huge change, surely? People in a married relationship grow as a couple, not just as individuals.

No, I don't believe this is the case. And even if it was, how does it support your argument? People in arranged marriages change too, don't they?

It's not naïve. The more work you put in before marriage, the better chance you have of entering a successful one. I am not saying that every marriage will work. Some marriages will break down no matter how much you want them to work (though I'd have to question the basis of any relationship which reaches that stage). But so do de facto relationships.

"Married" should encompass same sex relationships who have made a "committment" too each other. Also comparative to those non religious individuals who seek a public committment too each other but not with religious overtones.

"Outdated" or out of favour because of the hard work involved?

I think they are in Australia providing they are signed off?

Sounds like the perfect wedding to me (I'd go to the Noodle Box rather than RR though).

Woo hoo - I just became a senior member whatever that means!

You do realise that in Oz even if you've only been living together as a defacto relationship after 6 months the same rules apply as marriage if you break up? So unless you want to remain a miserable old lonely b.ugger for your life you're going to have to give in at some point!

Actually children don't have to be involved. If the wife is a stay at home wife with no kids the guy will still get shafted.

My male friends that are divorced aren't millionaires but the do quite well for themselves. The got raped when they got divorced, lost everything.

When youre married to my missus, its lovely. Need to make sure she sees this.

Ahh, that's lovely Framac. I take it Friday night is 'date night' in your house

Actually, in Australia you can be living with someone for 1 day for the de facto rules to apply.

Loneliness is a state of mind. You don't need to get married to live a happy and fullfilling life. Loneliness stems more from neediness and co-dependency than anything else.

As long as you have good friends there is no reason to be lonely.

I've been here before with you D, have i not?

surely once you have bought the house, got the kids and the dog you've made a bigger commitment than any bit of paper will ever mean so all the people saying its just gambling on your future, id rather gamble on my future than my childrens

SC, you'll always be ma mate so we'll never be lonely baby.