common-law marriage
Unregistered spousal partnership
A common-law marriage is a legally recognized union established through cohabitation and mutual agreement rather than a formal ceremony or license.
The couple lives together, presents themselves as married, and intends to be married: After fifteen years together, their common-law marriage entitled her to spousal benefits.
Only some jurisdictions recognize such arrangements.
One's position in law
- palimonyPost-separation payments, unwed couples
- de factoReal though not official
- property rightsLegal control over possessions
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
alimony · case law · jurisprudence · statute · doctrine · precedent · contractual · rights
Joining into one
bond · commitment · fidelity · loyalty · devotion · intimacy · companionship · affection
Sharing a dwelling
- domestic partnersUnmarried people sharing home and life
- live-in partnerUnmarried romantic cohabitant
- cohabitantsPeople sharing a residence
- joint tenancyShared ownership with survivorship
domesticity · interdependence · mutual support · nesting · holding out
Confirmation of receipt
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- legitimacyLawful or rightful status
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
verification · ratification · endorsement · certification · approval · legal recognition · jurisdictional · binding
legal status
One's position in law
- palimonyPost-separation payments, unwed couples
- de factoReal though not official
- property rightsLegal control over possessions
inheritance · alimony · case law · jurisprudence · statute · doctrine · precedent · contractual · rights · obligations
union
Joining into one
mate · bond · commitment · fidelity · loyalty · devotion · intimacy · companionship · affection · trust
living together
Sharing a dwelling
- domestic partnersUnmarried people sharing home and life
- live-in partnerUnmarried romantic cohabitant
- cohabitantsPeople sharing a residence
joint tenancy · domesticity · interdependence · mutual support · nesting · holding out
acknowledgment
Confirmation of receipt
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- legitimacyLawful or rightful status
authentication · verification · ratification · endorsement · certification · approval · legal recognition · jurisdictional · binding · enforceable
extralegal
Outside legal authority
- marriagebride, groom, wedding, husband, wife
- cohabitationcohabitation, cohabiting, cohabitants, cohabiting couple, living together
- marriage lawdivorce decree, matrimony, divorce petition, betrothal, annulment
- relationshipsfriends, romantic, family, friend, flirting
- weddingswedding, wedding dress, wedding cake, wedding ceremony, bride
- divorcedivorce court, divorce decree, divorce papers, divorce filing, divorce lawyer
common-law marriagecivil marriage
Government-sanctioned spousal union
ceremonial marriage · church wedding · courthouse wedding · religious marriage · civil ceremony
common-law marriagesinglehood
Unmarried state
casual dating · bachelorhood · spinsterhood · celibacy · one-night stand
marriage, married, recommend, accommodate, uncommon, merrily, marrying, merriment, commons