What states allow common law marriage?

An additional seven states allow common law marriages, but only if those marriages were formed before a specific date (meaning new common law marriages are allowed). However, all 50 states must recognize common law marriage validly created in other states that allow them. read more

Common Law Marriage. Common law marriage is allowed in a minority of states. A common law marriage is a legally recognized marriage between two people who have not purchased a marriage license or had their marriage solemnized by a ceremony. Not all states have statutes addressing common law marriage. read more

In some states case law recognizes common law marriages, including Alabama and Rhode Island. Oklahoma's statute requires couples to get a marriage license; however case law has upheld common law marriages in the state. States Previously Allowing Common Law Marriage . States that did allow, and will still recognize as valid, common law marriages entered into prior to the date it was abolished. read more

Thus, a marriage validly contracted in Ohio, including common-law marriages entered into before that state abolished new common-law marriages in 1991, is valid in Indiana, even though the common-law marriage could not have been legally contracted in Indiana, because Ohio law is the basis of its validity. read more

With some differences, 15 states and the District of Columbia recognize some form of common law marriage either by statute or court ruling. Nine of these place restrictions on relationships they will consider as the equivalent of marriage. The most common is refusing to recognize common law relationships formed after a specific date. read more