The Offices of Keane Law, LLC
  • Home
  • About
  • Practice Areas
    • Child Custody
      • Allocation Of Parental Responsibilities
      • Child Relocation And Parental Move-Aways
      • Custody Evaluations Child And Family Investigators (CFIs): What You Should Know
      • Grandparents Rights
      • Guardianship
      • Interstate Child Custody And Support Issues / Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act
      • Modification And Enforcement Of Orders
      • Paternity
    • Child Support
    • Mediation ADR
    • Domestic Violence
      • Civil Protection Orders
      • Stalking And Domestic Violence
    • Marital Property Division
      • Complex Asset Division
      • Prenuptial And Postnuptial Agreements
      • Tax & Title Issues In Divorce
    • Spousal Support
    • Collaborative Law
    • Divorce Dissolution
      • Annulments And Declarations Of Invalidity
      • Colorado Divorce Process
      • Common-Law Marriage
      • Legal Separation
      • No-Fault Divorce
    • Nontraditional Families
      • Dissolution Agreements
      • Domestic Partnerships
  • Articles
  • Blog
  • Contact
Select Page

Does Colorado recognize common law marriage?

On behalf of The Offices of Keane Law, LLC | Apr 6, 2015 | Domestic Partnerships

It’s becoming increasingly common for today’s couples to live together for years before getting married. When a relationship ends several years in, it can be much like a divorce even if the parties were never legally married. Common law marriages have been around for over a hundred years, but whether or not they are recognized varies by state, and there are many misconceptions surrounding this practice.

The Supreme Court ruled back in 1877 that common law marriages were valid unless state law specifically prohibited it. While in recent decades, many states have done just that, common law marriages are still recognized as legally valid in the state of Colorado. Couples that are required to provide a proof of marriage for a common law marriage usually only need a signed affidavit.

Many people are under the assumption that a common law marriage means you must have been living with the other person for a certain number of years, but in Colorado, this isn’t the case. Colorado’s guidelines governing common law marriage only require that the couple must both be not already married and freely consenting to the marriage. However, there are several other points that are generally considered evidence of consent, including living together, calling each other husband and wife and presenting themselves to the community as a married couple.

Because Colorado legally recognizes these marriages, the divorce process is often much the same as with those traditionally married. Asset division and spousal support may still come into play, but to fully understand how the laws apply, it’s best to talk to a family law attorney who can explain what to expect.

Source: Colorado Department of Law, “Common Legal Questions,” accessed April. 06, 2015

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Recent Posts

  • Understand how a civil union differs from a marriage
  • Three ways to protect your assets in high-net worth divorce
  • Think about the issues you face during a divorce
  • How should we handle the marital home during a divorce?

Archives

  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013

RSS Feed

Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed

FindLaw Network

Our Contact

Information

The Offices of Keane Law, LLC

5350 Manhattan Circle
Suite 201
Boulder, CO 80303

Phone: 303-449-9960

Boulder Office Location Map

5350 Manhattan Circle  Boulder, CO 80303

Comprehensive

Family Law Services

The Experienced Representation You Deserve

© 2021 The Offices of Keane Law, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw, part of Thomson Reuters