No Words but Actions - General Comparative Conclusions on Married or Not : Does it Matter? (Geen Woorden maar Daden - Algemene Rechtsvergelijkende Conclusies Gehuwd of Niet: Maakt Het Iets Uit?)

This paper is the general comparative conclusion of a Belgo-Dutch research project (and book) where we have examined how the situation of being married or not, impacts the legal position of the couple. This has been explored, systematically for Belgium and for the Netherlands, on the level of family law, divorce, parental relationships, position of children, alimony and maintenance, marital property law, inheritance law, social security law. Also socio-demographic and sociological analysis were made. These conclusions are a plea for equal treatment of relationships, not based on the words, the mere legal framing, but based on the actions, factual situation, the socio-economocial reality of peoples lives