common-law marriage :: legal definition
Common-law marriage - n. an agreement between a man and woman to live together as husband and wife without any legal formalities, followed and/or preceded by cohabitation on a regular basis (usually for seven years). Common-law marriage is legal in Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Utah, thereby recognizing a marriage for purposes of giving the other party the rights of a spouse, including inheritance or employee benefits. Such informal partnerships are recognized by some local governments for purposes of the rights of a spouse under employment contracts and pension rights even where the state does not recognize this as a marriage.
See also: cohabitation and Related Law Terms ↓
Related Law Terms
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patentad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody
community property :: n. property and profits received by a husband and ... and distribution separate property
conjugal rights :: n. a spouse's so-called "rights" to the comforts a ... r") in a special room or apartment.
due process of law :: n. a fundamental principle of fairness in all lega ... procedural and substantive rights.
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
laches :: n. the legal doctrine that a legal right or claim ... , breach of contract, fraud, etc.).
legal separation :: n. a court-decreed right to live apart, with the r ... n is rarely used. See also: divorce
marriage :: n. the joining of a male and female in matrimony b ... of time without legal formalities.
M'Naughten rule :: n. a traditional "right and wrong" test of legal i ... temporary insanity Twinkie defense
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
self-executing :: adj. immediately effective without further action, ... party the right to try to collect.
separate property :: n. in community property states (California, Texas ... pouse. See also: community property
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Popular Law Searches
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forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
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calendar call :: n. the hearing at which a case is set for trial. ... g at which a case is set for trial.
call :: n. the demand by a corporation that a stockholder ... assessment on shares already owned.
calumny :: n. the intentional and generally vicious false acc ... 's reputation. See also: defamation
cancel :: v. to cross out, annul, destroy, void and/or resci ... g, so that it cannot be used again.
cancellation :: cancel ... cancel
caning :: n. a punishment for crimes employed in certain Asi ... last century in the United States.
canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection.
cap :: n. slang for maximum, as the most interest that ca ... "adjustable rate" promissory note.
capital :: 1) n. from Latin for caput, meaning "head," the ba ... count capital assets stock in trade
capital account :: n. the record which lists all basic assets of a bu ... or the alleged value of good will.
capital assets :: n. equipment, property, and funds owned by a busin ... . See also: capital capital account
capital expenditure :: n. payment by a business for basic assets such as ... y intended to improve productivity.
capital gains :: n. the difference between the sales price and the ... so: basis delayed exchange exchange
capital investment :: capital expenditure ... capital expenditure
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
capital punishment :: n. execution (death) for a capital offense. The U. ... or death. See also: capital offense
capital stock :: n. the original amount paid by investors into a co ... price. See also: corporation stock
capitalization :: n. 1) the act of counting anticipated earnings and ... for conversion into capital assets.