NH Law About ...: Common-law Marriage: Read About The Law ...

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FindLaw. What is Common Law Marriage?
In the United States, common law marriage has been in existence since the horse and buggy days of 1877. While it might sound like an archaic form of marriage, it's still technically around today in one form or another in 10 states and the District of Columbia. Additionally, five states recognize common law marriage with some restrictions.

Books

Family law / by Charles G. Douglas. New Providence, N.J. : LexisNexis, 2014. 4th ed.
"[W]hen the parties cohabit, mutually acknowledge each other as husband and wife, and have the general reputation in the community as being a married couple for at least three years, a legal marriage exists upon the death of one spouse. Unfortunately, one-half of the couple must be dead and the marriage terminated before it can legally be declared to have been a marriage. This is otherwise known as the "I'd rather be dead than married" statute." p. 2-15.

Disclaimer

Please remember that this guide is for information purposes only and is not comprehensive. It is intended as a starting point for research, to illustrate the various sources of the law, and to provide guidance in their use. NH Law About ... is not a substitute for the services of an attorney.