LC: What are you hocking chinik about. If the NYS law says that if a non-clergyman performs a religious ritual kesuba/kiddushin then it has no effect or validity in being considered a legal marriage in NYS, then such a religious marriage under the eyes of NYS law is no different than a senior couple living together without any marriage altogether. It involves no “kulas” (hey, aren’t you all about “less chumras” anyways?), involves no fraud, and you’re fully legally and halachicly entitled to the benefits – all of which are kosher. That’s the law in NYS, and someone doing this is following it completely. No less than unmarried goyim who are bf and gf and collect full benefits.
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