julian@deepthot.UUCP (Julian Davies) (04/17/84)
Doubtless some lawyer will correct me, but my assumption would be that 'common law' marriages don't exist in the States. I thought that the USA specifically did away with the whole british approach to law. In UK law, there is a distinction between 'common law' and Statute law. The former is essentialy whatever is defined by long custom, or more exactly by precedent. I suspect though that the term "common law marriage' is a bit of an oxymoron. Can anyone clarify? Julian Davies uwo!julian
tj@sun.uucp (Cal Thixton) (04/20/84)
'Common Law' marriages still do exist in that US of A. I once knew of a girl who, becuase she has signed her name on a apartment lease as Mrs. so-and-so, she had to legally divorce him a couple of years later. Of course, the judge looked at her case and had to decide whethere 'everyone' elae considered them 'married' and if in fact that considered themselves as such, (more or less). Cal Thixton ...sun!tj