Today’s question: Are you married? Short answer: Yes, if you went through a marriage ceremony conducted by an authorized person and received a valid marriage license, never divorced and your spouse is ...

A. What you’re referring to appears to be a common-law marriage. A common-law marriage is a form of informal marital union that arises when two individuals live together as a married couple without ...

Common-law spouses may enjoy benefits similar to those with a marriage license Reviewed by Khadija Khartit A common-law ...

Smiling woman hugging her partner on the couch from behind in the living room. Should you live with a partner you’re not married to? One aspect to consider is the fact that some states may consider ...

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 ...

“Well, we were never actually married, but we were basically married. Common law married.” Few words raise more red flags for estate planners and probate attorneys than phrases like this. Marriage is ...

Does Social Security recognize common law or do you have to be legally married? My potential life partner is currently on disability collecting Social Security in a neighboring state. If the spousal ...

Property division in a divorce depends on whether the state follows community property or common law rules. In community property states, most assets acquired during the marriage belong equally to ...