June 2016 Group Watch: No More Common Law Marriage in AL
On January 1, 2017, Alabama will join 40 other states no longer recognizing common law marriage. Governor Bentley signed into law legislation abolishing common law marriages. Common law marriage is when a couple decides to live together without a license or a ceremonial marriage. This arrangement often leads to certain legal issues when couples break up, or one of them dies or if children are involved. There is no provision for division of marital property and no division of marital debts. Common law arrangements before the law goes into effect will still be recognized.
