Marriage

===Cohabitation===
{{See also|Cohabitation|Common-law marriage}}
In some jurisdictions [[cohabitation]], in certain circumstances, may constitute a [[common-law marriage]], an [[Unregistered cohabitation|unregistered partnership]], or otherwise provide the unmarried partners with various rights and responsibilities; and in some countries, the laws recognize cohabitation in lieu of institutional marriage for taxation and social security benefits. This is the case, for example, in Australia.<ref>[http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/itaa1997240/s995.1.html Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 – Sect 995.1(1)]: ""spouse" of an individual includes: (a) another individual (whether of the same sex or a different sex) with whom the individual is in a relationship that is registered under a * State law or * Territory law prescribed for the purposes of section 22B of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 as a kind of relationship prescribed for the purposes of that section; and (b) another individual who, although not legally married to the individual, lives with the individual on a genuine domestic basis in a relationship as a couple."</ref> Cohabitation may be an option pursued as a form of resistance to traditional institutionalized marriage. However, in this context, some nations reserve the right to define the relationship as marital, or otherwise to regulate the relation, even if the relation has not been registered with the state or a religious institution.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Cherlin|first=Andrew J.|title=The Deinstitutionalization of American Marriage|journal=Journal of Marriage and the Family|year=2004|volume=66|issue=4|pages=848–61|doi=10.1111/j.0022-2445.2004.00058.x|url=https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cand/09cv2292/evidence/DIX0049.pdf|access-date=25 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201000346/https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cand/09cv2292/evidence/DIX0049.pdf|archive-date=1 February 2017|citeseerx=10.1.1.614.8920}}</ref>

Conversely, institutionalized marriages may not involve cohabitation. In some cases, couples living together do not wish to be recognized as married. This may occur because pension or alimony rights are adversely affected; because of taxation considerations; because of immigration issues, or for other reasons. Such marriages have also been increasingly common in [[Beijing]]. Guo Jianmei, director of the center for women's studies at Beijing University, told a [[Newsday]] correspondent, "Walking marriages reflect sweeping changes in Chinese society." A "walking marriage" refers to a type of temporary marriage formed by the [[Mosuo]] of China, in which male partners live elsewhere and make nightly visits.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gargan|first=Edward A.|title=China's New Brides Put Freedom First/All perks, no work in 'walking marriages'|page=A.04|work=[[Newsday]]|date=19 March 2001}}</ref> A similar arrangement in [[Saudi Arabia]], called [[Nikah Misyar|misyar marriage]], also involves the husband and wife living separately but meeting regularly.<ref>{{cite news|last=Karam|first=Souhail|title=Misyar offers marriage-lite in strict Saudi society|agency= Reuters| date = 21 July 2006|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/07/21/misyar_offers_marriage_lite_in_strict_saudi_society/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218200946/http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/07/21/misyar_offers_marriage_lite_in_strict_saudi_society/|archive-date=18 February 2009|work=The Boston Globe}}</ref>