Myths and truths about common law marriage

[iamyourneighbor]

Common law marriage is not recognized in most states (USA) today. So no matter how many years a couple lives together, they don't have to worry about common law marriage.

States that do recongnize common law marriage: Alabama, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia (if Made prior to 1997), Idaho (if created before 1996), Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire (for inheritance purposes only), Ohio (if created prior to 10/1991), Oklahoma, Pennsylvania (if created before 9/2003), Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.

The following are FALSE statements about common law marriage:

Cohabitation alone does not constitute a common law marriage

The property bought by a common law spouse will be split half and half in the event of separation

Fact: Rights to protecting a family residence and dividing family assets are only granted to legally married couples

False statements

If a couple has a child together, they must adopt him/her

Should a common law spouse die or become disabled, all assets automatically go to the surviving spouse

There is no such thing as common law divorce

Fact: if you are married by common law and then decide to end the relationship, you will still require a legal divorce.

[fuqthegovt]

Why I don't have her living with me more than a year at a time to avoid that, even if it means having to get her a hotel for 1-3 months to start the clock over. That would still probably be cheaper than a lawyer a few years later. Thankfully I've never had to test that assumption.