Let's Talk About Common Law Marriage
Typically in the United States, a couple gets married by obtaining a marriage license and having a marriage ceremony. In some states, however, a couple can be deemed married by cohabiting and presenting themselves to the...more
As a divorce attorney, I’ve noticed that there are a few widely held false beliefs regarding divorce laws in Washington state. Here are the most common and potentially the most dangerous for those headed for a divorce:...more
In a divorce, the judge will have to divide your marital property and debts between the spouses. The division must be “just and equitable” under the circumstances of the relationship. But can an unmarried couples receive a...more
Marriage has always been governed by state law, and it is only in very recent history that select states began revising their definitions of marriage to acknowledge the rights of all couples to be married. While Massachusetts...more
“We have been together for so long, it is as if we are married.” In a small number of jurisdictions, including nearby Rhode Island, a couple can be legally recognized as being married, without any formal registration of a...more
Supreme Court Advance Release Opinions: SC19494 - State v. Berrios - Appellate Court Advance Release Opinions: AC37045 - Hickey v. Commissioner of Correction - AC33954 - Burr Road Operating Co. II, LLC v....more
On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in Windsor v. United States, No. 12-307. The Court ruled (in a 5-4 decision) that the section of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that required federal...more
On June 26, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor1 overturned Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA"), which had defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.2 As a result, married...more