00:00 Marriage is essentially a legal contract between two people that grants them certain legal rights and benefits, and the process starts with filling out an application for a marriage license.

04:33 Marriage grants legal rights and benefits, and the process varies from state to state, but generally involves filling out an application, paying a fee, and receiving a certificate; there are also over 1,100 federal benefits to being married, including hospital visitation rights, making medical decisions on behalf of a spouse, tax benefits, inheritance rights, and more.

09:14 Married couples tend to live longer and have more stable, well-adjusted children, but the average age of marriage has been increasing since the 1950s.

14:11 The podcast discusses the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and how Bill Clinton has changed his stance on it over the years.

18:47 The reciprocal beneficiary relationship in Hawaii grants the rights of a married couple to individuals who are dependent on each other, but it doesn't necessarily mean they are a couple in the eyes of the law.

23:03 Common law marriage is no longer as prevalent as it used to be, and in order to be considered common law married, couples must present themselves as married by changing their last names, filing joint tax returns, and living as if they are married, rather than just living together.

27:25 Marriages are more likely to last if the couple graduated college, have their own children, drink together, have fun together, and share a curiosity for the same things.

31:58 Being aware of the different expectations and ideas of what a date is for men and women can help prevent misunderstandings and dissatisfaction in a relationship.

35:53 This section of the podcast is not relevant to the topic of marriage and does not provide any new information or insights.

40:23 This section of the podcast is not relevant to the topic of marriage and does not provide any new information or insights.