What is Marriage?
[[File:John and Gail at St. Stephens church.jpg|thumb|A [[Scotland|Scottish]] groom and his bride]] '''Marriage''' is a [[contract]] by which two people agree to live together as a couple for an extended period of [[time]] or for the rest of their lives, often with the aim of starting a [[family]] by having or [[Adoption|adopting]] [[Child|children]].{{cn|date=November 2024}} It can be done by signing a contract before a civil authority, or [[civil marriage]], or in a formal [[ceremony]] officiated by a religious authority.{{cn|date=November 2024}} The most common form of marriage is a legally binding [[heterosexual]] union. Some societies recognize [[polygamy]], which includes but not limited to [[polygyny]] and [[polyandry]]. In polygyny, a man may be married to many women, while a woman may be married to many men. In [[Senegal]], for example, nearly 47 percent of marriages are multiple.<ref> {{cite news | last = Diouf | first = Nafi | title = Polygamy hangs on in Africa | publisher = The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=May 2, 2004 | url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20040502/ai_n10968614 }} </ref>{{better source|date=November 2024}} The most common age to get married is between 25 to 30 years old. In the [[Western world]], marriage for love is common. In some other countries, relatives may plan an [[arranged marriage]].{{cn|date=November 2024}} ==Overview== There are many reasons why people marry, but they usually include one or more of the following: *They want to have a [[family]] that is legally recognised. *They want to have [[children]] and be able to pass on property or money to their children with fewer problems *They want to officially declare their [[love]] for the other. *They want to get a certain [[citizenship]] of a [[state]] or country. *They want to avail of the many legal and financial benefits of marriage like [[Social Security|social security]], joint taxes, and health insurances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0412/wh