Common law marriage, also referred to as non-ceremonial or sui iuris marriage, and marriage by habit and repute, refers to an informal yet legal union between two people with the same legal obligations of a married couple without undergoing an official civil or religious ceremony. Only a handful of states continue to recognize common law marriage, Texas being one of them. Texas is unique in that no official paperwork needs to be filed to affirm a...
Common Law Marriage and Divorce
The laws for common law marriage and divorce vary by state. It’s important to know what the law says, as a common law marriage (and a common law divorce) have different requirements than licensed marriages.
What Is Common Law Marriage?
In some states, when a couple has lived together for an extended period, their relationship can be considered a common law marriage if they meet a few other criteria and make the...