LEGAL- July 21, 2021
Most of us have heard the line that getting married is just a “piece of paper”.
A real estate contract is just a piece of paper that provides the amount the buyer is to pay and the property the seller is selling, and state the repercussions of either party defaulting under the terms of the contract.
A deed is just a piece of paper that provides the ownership of real estate.
A lease is just a piece of paper that provides the legal possession of property.
A durable power of attorney is just a piece of paper that provides for third parties to act on an individual’s behalf, and remains in effect even if there is a loss of mental capacity.
A last will and testament is just a piece of a paper that provides who should handle one’s estate and the beneficiaries of that estate.
A living will is just a piece of paper that provides for whether someone wants to be maintained artificially or not.
So when you hear that getting married is just a piece of paper, yes it’s a piece of paper that changes one status from that of an individual that the law most likely is not going to recognize as someone having rights as it relates to an illness or death of a boyfriend or girlfriend to an individual that the law deems an interested party and who usually has legal protections.
So “pieces of paper” can be quite powerful.