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Marriage

common law or informal

Common law marriage—also known as marriage without formalities or informal marriage—is marriage without a wedding or marriage ceremony and without a marriage license. Some states recognize common law marriage under certain circumstances—such as when the parties agree to be married, live together (cohabit) after agreeing to be married, and represent to others that they are married (holding themselves out as a married couple).

Other states previously recognized common law marriages, but no longer recognize such marriages after a certain date on which the law was changed—usually by statute. In other states, common law marriage has not been recognized by the legislature in a statute, but the courts have recognized common law marriage in court opinions or case law.

Vermont does not recognize common law marriage. In Vermont, a marriage must be established through a formal process that includes obtaining a marriage license and having a marriage ceremony, which can be either civil or religious. This means that no matter how long a couple has lived together or whether they hold themselves out as married, the state will not consider them legally married without the formalities of a license and ceremony. While some states in the U.S. do recognize common law marriages under certain conditions, Vermont is not one of them, and couples who wish to be legally recognized as married must follow the state's established procedures.

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Marriage

common law or informal

Individual & Family Legal Plan

Articles

Vermont State Code

Vermont State Code

Marriage

common law or informal

Articles