Should You Get Married Before Having a Child?

In the past, there were traditions and generally-accepted “rules” regarding marriage. Some of these might be family-centric and others might be due to religious obligations. However, the reality is that current generations are far more rebellious and goal-oriented, focusing more on self-care and realistic expectations than following what their parents tell them.

One such topic that is often brought up nowadays is; should I get married before having a child?

There are a couple of benefits and disadvantages, so we’re going to do our best to explain them briefly.

There are no set-in-stone rules

You can generally have a child whenever you and your partner are ready for it. Being married does come with a certain level of commitment that can be a precursor to how serious the relationship is, but there are no set-in-stone rules that you have to abide by.

Being financially stable leads to marriage

Getting married is not cheap and if you’re even considering it, then you’ve likely established some level of financial stability which means you’re more than capable of raising a child without the risk of falling into poverty.

You might run into legal troubles

Whether it’s claiming financial help to raise the child or determining the custody of your child, being married makes these legal issues far less of a problem. Just take a look at the infographic we’ve included below to learn a bit more about paternity actions and what could be involved if you have a child outside of marriage. Know the laws in your state.

Infographic source: Paternity Lawyer