Let's Talk About Common Law Marriage
You may have heard of common law marriage or you may know someone who refers to another as their “common law spouse,” their “common law wife,” or their “common law husband.” But what exactly is it and what does it mean?...more
Common law marriage is one of Pennsylvania’s most confusing legal topics. Does common law marriage still exist? If you are common law married, what are the proceedings to get a divorce? Family law partner Lawrence J. "Skip"...more
Oklahoma remains one of about only a dozen states that recognize common law marriages. Despite the Legislature’s sporadic attempts to effectively abolish such marriages, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has recently determined in...more
How do domestic partnership agreements (DPAs) and prenuptial or premarital agreements differ? Marriage contracts between two people who plan to marry are prenuptial agreements or antenuptial agreements. Marriage...more
This is the fifth installment of a seven-part series. Florida law provides for various death benefits if a married person predeceases his or her spouse and they have no premarital or postnuptial agreement. For unmarried...more
This is the fourth installment of a seven-part series. Florida law generally provides, when there is no premarital agreement, a marrying person’s right to alimony depends on the person’s need for alimony and the other...more
The decision by the United States Supreme Court on same-sex marriage has been greeted with praise and disdain by different corners of the country. The faith-based community has been especially outspoken. This is not...more
Partners may acquire a home together, and they may contribute different amounts toward the purchase price. During their relationship, they may contribute different amounts toward improvements, the mortgage, insurance, and...more