Andrew, with all due respect, that's a completely ridiculous idea. Why should people with jobs requiring them to be away from their partners for months or years at a time be denied having their relationship recognized? Why should I have to prove to the gov't that I'm living with (or in a relationship with) my partner at all? It is cheaper, more efficient, and less intrusive to sign an affidavit saying I'm in relationship (this is, essentially, what a marriage license amounts to) than to have the government investigate my private life to make an identical determination. It also places me at less risk of having nutty exes or family members try to "prove" that the relationship was somehow invalid.

As far as familes not approving who they're with: I doubt even in that case most people would actually lie about them being together. And even if they did, it shoulnt be hard to prove they were, in fact lying.

And yes, many states do have common law marriages, and I think that makes other forms unecessary. Although I'd like to see those allowed for same-sex-couples(I know some states already allow it, but not all) and for people who live polygymous/polymorous lifestyles.

If two people are that involved in each others lives it shouldnt be that hard to prove. In fact they wouldnt be legally strangers if they live together, have joint bank account, have kids together ect.