Americans are steadily delaying the age of first marriage. From 1983 to 2023, the median age increased by about five years to 30.2 years for men and 28.4 years for women, according to the U.S. Census.

In states that recognize common law marriages, you must meet a few requirements to gain marital status, but even these vary by state. Some of the requirements: You must live together for an amount of ...

Do you assume common law marriage exists everywhere? At some point growing up I “learned” that any couple who lives together ...

Six years ago Claire Ulrich, chorus girl met Charles E. Whitehurst, Baltimore. Md., theatreman, in Manhattan. They went to a hotel. In their room, without witnesses, they read to each other the ...

Does Social Security recognize common law or do you have to be legally married? My potential life partner is currently on disability collecting Social Security in a neighboring state. If the spousal ...

MUCH talk has been in the media in recent times, about marriage versus common-law, and where the entitlements end in law. Is there much to marriage except a piece of paper? How much power does ...

Does Social Security recognize common law or do you have to be legally married? My potential life partner is currently on disability collecting Social Security in a neighboring state. If the spousal ...

"Moreover, Mr. Zadnik was, from the evidence, the only other person in the room when the purported common law wedding ceremony occurred. There was no officiant. Perhaps I said that too quickly. Let me ...