Guide · United States
Common marriage and family models
There is no single official classification of family models in the United States. The names below help people discuss expectations, but not every arrangement is legally a marriage.
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Egalitarian marriage
Both partners work, share expenses, household responsibilities, and parenting, and make important decisions together.
Questionnaire available - 2
Dual-career marriage
Both partners prioritize their careers. They may use childcare and cleaning services and follow a clear schedule for household responsibilities.
According to the BLS, both parents were employed in 66.3% of married-couple families with children in 2025.
Questionnaire available - 3
Modern traditional marriage
The husband is the primary provider, the wife focuses more on the home and children, and important decisions are made together.
Questionnaire available - 4
Provider marriage
The husband funds nearly all family expenses. The wife may contribute through the home, children, support, and the family's social life.
Questionnaire available - 5
Patriarchal marriage
The husband is considered the head of the family and has final responsibility. In a safe, voluntary version, greater authority comes with greater responsibility—not unlimited power.
Questionnaire available - 6
Faith-centered marriage
Roles, parenting, intimacy, and attitudes toward divorce are shaped by a shared faith. The marriage may be egalitarian or patriarchal.
Questionnaire available - 7
Female-breadwinner marriage
The wife earns more or supports the family financially, while the husband may take greater responsibility for the home and children.
According to Pew Research Center, wives were the primary or sole breadwinner in 16% of opposite-sex U.S. marriages in 2022.
Questionnaire available - 8
Stay-at-home dad marriage
The father primarily manages the home and childcare while the mother pursues her career and carries the main financial responsibility.
Questionnaire available - 9
Companionate marriage
Friendship, emotional closeness, shared interests, and companionship matter most. Traditional gender roles are not required.
Questionnaire available - 10
Childfree marriage
The couple intentionally does not plan to have children and directs its time and resources toward the relationship, careers, travel, or other goals.
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Blended family
One or both partners already have children from previous relationships. Stepparent roles, former partners, and shared finances need special attention.
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Cohabitation
The couple lives together as a family without legally marrying. Legal consequences vary by state and do not automatically provide all spousal rights.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 26 million people lived in cohabiting-couple households in 2020.
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Living Apart Together (LAT)
Partners are in a committed relationship or marriage but maintain separate homes, combining closeness with day-to-day independence.
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Commuter marriage
Spouses temporarily live in different cities because of work, children from an earlier relationship, or caregiving while maintaining one family system.
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Cross-border marriage and relocation
Partners from different countries plan marriage and one person’s relocation. Alongside love and family roles, they need to discuss the immigration path, money before independent income, documents, work, culture, children, and a backup plan.
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Co-parenting partnership
Two people intentionally plan and raise a child without forming a romantic couple. They may live separately or as family companions.
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Open marriage
Spouses mutually agree to permit defined romantic or sexual relationships outside the marriage.
In a 2023 Pew Research Center survey, 50% of U.S. adults described open marriage as somewhat or completely unacceptable.
Questionnaire available - 18
Polyamorous family
More than two adults maintain consensual intimate relationships. This does not mean that every participant is legally married to every other participant.
Questionnaire available
A simpler starting point
Where to begin
For a first conversation, comparing seven broad directions is usually enough.
- • Modern traditional marriage
- • Provider marriage
- • Voluntary patriarchal marriage
- • Egalitarian marriage
- • Co-parenting partnership
- • Living Apart Together (LAT)
- • A blended family in which one partner already has a child
The boundaries between models are flexible
In practice, families often combine elements of several models. One partner may be the primary provider, major decisions may remain equal, and some household work may be outsourced. A model name is a conversation starter, not a fixed set of rules.
Choose a family model