State Laws: Common Law Marriage
Sixteen states recognize common law marriages, though several of these states have repealed their laws and only recognize these marriages entered into prior to a certain date. Unmarried cohabitants should check with the state and local laws in their jurisdictions to determine what rights may be available to them.
ALABAMA: The state recognizes common law marriages.
ALASKA: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
ARIZONA: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
ARKANSAS: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
CALIFORNIA: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
COLORADO: The state recognizes common law marriages.
CONNECTICUT: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
DELAWARE: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
FLORIDA: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
GEORGIA: The state recognizes common law marriages entered into before January 1, 1997.
HAWAII: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
IDAHO: The state recognizes common law marriages enter into before January 1, 1996.
ILLINOIS: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
INDIANA: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
IOWA: The state recognizes common law marriages.
KANSAS: The state recognizes common law marriages.
KENTUCKY: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
LOUISIANA: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
MAINE: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
MARYLAND: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
MASSACHUSETTES: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
MICHIGAN: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
MINNESOTA: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
MISSISSIPPI: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
MISSOURI: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
MONTANA: The state recognizes common law marriages.
NEBRASKA: The state does not recognize common law marriages.
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