Common law marriages are becoming more and more popular today. Big weddings and ceremonies are no longer what people feel they need or want when it comes to marriage and love. Common law marriages are couples who are recognized by the law as a married couple because they have lived together for a certain amount of time. Once you are considered a common law couple than you are then eligible for the same laws that apply to couples who actually got their marriage license and had that big wedding.
However, not all states recognize living together for any length of time as common law. Be sure to check out the laws for the sate you live in, they differ from state to state as far as the amount of time you have to live together before you are considered common law. For instance, Washington State, common law marriages are not recognized at all, whereas in Kansas, Texas, and Colorado, these types of marriages are recognized, and in some states, common law marriages are only recognized if entered into before a specific year.
This is the way that people are now choosing now because they say it saves them the expense of a big wedding or even a small wedding. They feel that they do not need a wedding or a big group of people around to prove their love to one another; instead they do it everyday in their own private way. The government created this law because there were so many people living their lives together and they were lasting just as long if not longer than people who got married in a church or otherwise. This is an accomplishment and something that should be recognized by the law. These couples that can live their lives together for any length of time should consider them husband and wife as well be considered in this fashion by their law.
Unfortunately, common law marriages are the marriage of the twenty-first century. Many people are trying to save money and make ends meet. Even without the money factor, big weddings are just not what people think they need today; they would rather spend their money on a house or a car instead of an expensive ceremony. Rather than spend the money on a big wedding, why not be married by a justice of the peace? It doesn’t cost much, and you are legally and rightfully married before God, with plenty of money left over for your first house.
There is another reason for choosing to live together rather than a traditional marriage, and that revolves around money as well. If one partner has accrued huge financial debt, the truth is that marrying them will cause the collectors to go after you as well, halfsies, remember? So many couples choose to live together for fear of losing everything, rather than the cost of a big wedding. This can also be a drawback if you live in a state which recognizes common law marriages-you will get all of the benefits, but will have incurred all the debt of your spouse after a period of time, as well. It’s much easier to get married, when you look at it from all angles.