Are there any laws related to common law marriages?
In Washington, common law marriages are not recognized under state law. Common law marriage is a type of marriage in which the couple are not officially licensed by the state to marry, but are legally considered married based on fulfilling certain requirements. These requirements vary by state, and typically include things like living together for a certain amount of time or holding themselves out to the public as a married couple. While common law marriages are not recognized by the state of Washington, there are some legal implications for couples who are in this type of relationship. For instance, if a couple is in a common law marriage in another state, and moves to Washington, the couple will continue to be recognized as married in the state of Washington. In addition, Washington courts will consider common law marriages in other states when determining spousal support, property distribution, and other related matters. Finally, while common law marriages are not legally recognized in Washington, couples in this type of relationship may be treated the same as any legally married couple by some employers or by some private companies. For instance, if a couple is in a common law marriage and are both employed by the same employer, they may be eligible for the same benefits as any other legally married couple.
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