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I don't know about other countries but it mostly does not exist in the US. Only 9 states allow one to be created, one of which requires it to be certified by a
by nullc 2y ago
I don't know about other countries but it mostly does not exist in the US. Only 9 states allow one to be created, one of which requires it to be certified by a court. And in those states that do you must intentionally, openly, and conspicuously hold yourself out as married... so the urban legends about accidentally ending up married are just that-- urban legends-- at least in the US.
- jeffbee 2y agoWell, the beauty of the common law tradition is you, as a hypothetical co-habitator, have no idea whether you are "accidentally married" in any particular regard unless or until the matter comes before a judge for whatever reason. Your aggrieved former not-quite-spouse can make whatever claim to equitable judgement that they can imagine in, say, Colorado. Contrast this with, say, Poland or France, where under their civil traditions there is no chance whatsoever that your unmarried person who lived with you will be able to claim your estate when you have died.