Common Law Marriage

Common Law Marriage is an arrangement where non-married persons are treated as married persons under the law. The arrangement has been abolished in the vast majority of U.S. states; currently, only nine states... more +

Common Law Marriage is an arrangement where non-married persons are treated as married persons under the law. The arrangement has been abolished in the vast majority of U.S. states; currently, only nine states allow common law marriage: Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. A handful of other states will recognize common law marriages if they existed prior to a particular cutoff date. While exact requirements vary according to jurisdiction, the typical requirements of a common law marriage are: 1) Agreement to be married 2) Cohabitation 3) Holding oneself out as married.