A person of the opposite sex who has been cohabiting and residing with you for a continuous period of at least one year, and has been publicly represented by you as your spouse.
A marriage by mutual consent without the formality of application for a license or issuance of a certificate. A common-law marriage requires that both parties agree to the marriage and that they agree to assume the same marital duties and obligations as formal marriages. Not all states recognize common-law marriages.
In some states, a couple is considered married if they meet certain requirements, such as living together as husband and wife for a specific length of time. Such a couple has all the rights and obligations of a traditionally married couple.
A marriage existing by mutual consent of a man and woman. Common-law marriages are not established in Illinois, but such marriages recognized by and consummated in another state are recognized in Illinois. Children of these marriages are considered legitimate.
No such thing in Scotland, or in England and Wales, or Northern Ireland. No matter how long two people live together as if they were married, they will still only have the rights of cohabitants until they do marry. See marriage.
A marriage in which no formal ceremony took place and no license exists
Common-law marriage (or common law marriage), sometimes called informal marriage or marriage by habit and repute is, historically, a form of interpersonal status in which a man and a woman are legally married. The term is often mistakenly understood to indicate an interpersonal relationship that is not recognized in law. In fact, a common law marriage is just as legally binding as a statutory or ceremonial marriage in most jurisdictions — it is just formed differently.