>>...Ever hear of "common law" marriage?...<<
Yes. But not all state's Governments "recognize" common law marriages.
Of the 50 states, 40 no longer allow such marriages to be contracted within their borders. Nevertheless, most states will recognize a marriage that was valid in the state of the parties' residence at the time of marriage. See 1 Homer H. Clark, The Law of Domestic Relations in the United States 2.4 (2d ed. 1987); Annotation, Common Law Marriage, 92 A.L.R.2d 1102 (1963). This fact, combined with the mobility of modern society, continues to force courts in all states to confront common law marriage issues.
So move to Texas, shack up for a year, refer to each other as husband and wife in name and letter - and wala. =)
Yes. But not all state's Governments "recognize" common law marriages.Colorado recognizes common law marriage. There is no common law divorce though. If you want a divorce from a common law marriage, you must go through the usual legal process. Couples living together in Colorado, depending on their exact circumstances, may be legally married even though they don't know it. Makes for interesting court cases sometimes.