nonmarried

Nonmarried is an adjective used to describe a person who is not married. It can refer to individuals who are single, widowed, divorced, or separated, as well as those who are in long-term relationships without a legal marriage. In some contexts, nonmarried pairs may cohabit or enter into other legally recognized relationships such as civil unions or domestic partnerships.

Legal rights for nonmarried individuals or couples vary by jurisdiction. Married couples often receive certain benefits in areas such as taxation, inheritance, healthcare decision-making, and social security. Nonmarried couples may have limited rights unless they have formal agreements, wills, or enter into recognized coalitions. Some countries or regions offer domestic partnerships or civil unions that grant a subset of marriage-like rights.

Demographic trends show declining marriage rates in many parts of the world, accompanied by rising rates of cohabitation and childbearing outside marriage. Societal attitudes toward nonmarriage vary culturally and over time, with age, education, and economic conditions influencing decisions about marriage.

When children are involved, the legal parentage of nonmarried couples is determined by jurisdiction, typically requiring explicit recognition of both parents or a paternity/maternity determination. Custody, support, and parental rights depend on law and whether the couple has formalized any arrangements.