Inheritance is one of the most important legal issues for couples in a common law marriage. If a common law marriage is legally recognized, a surviving spouse may […]

Common law marriage allows a couple to become legally married without a formal wedding ceremony or marriage license in certain states. However, only a small number of U.S. […]

If you’re wondering whether Idaho is a common law marriage state, the short answer is no—Idaho no longer allows couples to create new common law marriages. Simply living […]

If you’re wondering whether Oregon recognizes common law marriage, the short answer is no—Oregon does not allow couples to create a common law marriage within the state. Simply […]

Domestic partnerships and common law marriages are both legal relationships that may provide certain rights to couples, but they are not the same thing. A common law marriage […]

If you’re wondering whether Ohio recognizes common law marriage, the short answer is no—Ohio no longer allows couples to create new common law marriages. However, there is an […]

Common law marriage was once recognized in many parts of the United States. Over time, however, most states abolished the practice and now require couples to obtain a […]

Many couples ask whether they can register a common law marriage to make it legally official. The answer depends on where you live. Most states that recognize common […]

If you’re claiming a common law marriage, you may need to prove that your relationship meets your state’s legal requirements. Unlike a traditional marriage, there is usually no […]

Many people assume that living together for a long time automatically creates a legal marriage. In most U.S. states, that is not true. However, a few states still […]