A question I receive fairly often is whether or not common law marriage is recognized in Arizona. This article is designed to address what common law marriage is and explain when Arizona acknowledges it.
What Is Common Law Marriage?
While there is some variance from state to state as to what specific requirements exist to enter into a common law marriage, the general idea is that after two people live together for a certain amount of time and hold themselves out as husband and wife, they become married without having to otherwise formally recognize the marriage.
Does Arizona Recognize Common Law Marriage?
Arizona does not generally recognize common law marriage. A.R.S. § 25-111. So if you are living in the state of Arizona and are concerned that you are going to accidentally become married, you can relax.
There are only a small handful of states that do recognize common law marriage. They include: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah. Also, the District of Columbia recognizes common law marriage.
However, our state does recognize common law marriage in one limited scenario: when the parties entered into a common law marriage in another state and then moved here. In that situation, Arizona will acknowledge the validity of a common law marriage.
Concerns With Cohabiting In Arizona
Despite the fact that Arizona does not recognize common law marriages, there are still potential legal implications of living with a significant other, also known as cohabitation. If you move in with another person, Arizona can recognize an implicit contract between yourself and that other person that can be extracted from the circumstances. Thus, if you create a pattern of sharing in acquiring things or dealing with debts in a routine way, it’s possible that you can be sued for your share of something later on.
If you have any concerns about whether you may have entered into a common law marriage, or if you are contemplating moving in with a significant other, you should speak with a licensed family law attorney to make sure you have considered all the potential legal implications.
i loaned a person $200,000 on a note partial collateral of $65,000 a boat, the note is at 12% monthly payments, which have been made for 4 years, now he is 9 months behind, also penalties of $50.00 per day.
he lives with a women for many years 15,the house they live in is in her name, no marriage, i have asked for more collateral, he says none, can i go after the real estate?
this is under az. law
We would recommend reaching out to an attorney that focusses on real estate law.
I have been living with someone for over 21 years. The first 11 years I 100% supported that entire household. At one point I broke my back and was out of work and has since been declared disability Social Security. Now we are breaking up solely due to his physical and emotional abuse which I have proof of. Since receiving my disability I take that trip each and every month that we live together and paid our rent. The other persons check went to other living expenses and what we both needed. He has continued to give me money so far but it’s a big fight with Payday and he is abusive about it. I also have Proof of. One day he says he’s feeling nothing and he says he’ll help them back-and-forth and back-and-forth. I never know if I can pay the bills that we both incurred while we were together at all let alone my now cost of living because we had to spend my entire Social Security reward to survive because he got fired from his job and will not look for work during the time I got that money I even had to get A $5000 high interest loan during the time he did not even look for a job just so we can make ends meet with her I am now stuck with. We were not legally married but others recognized us Us as so also. Including both our families and friends. Am I entitled to any kind of alimony or payment from himLike an alimony to help pay these bills off and continue on? Please please in the advice will be helpful as I am at the end of my rope. Thank you very much
If your partner passes away and you lived with them for 6 years. what is the right the other partner has to his property?
My husband and i have been married for four years. We lived together for ten years before that. Three months ago he left to Oklahoma to live with another woman. Our house is in his name only because my credit rating. Could he sell our home without my agreeing?
What am i doing wrong?
I have been living with my bf for 22 yrs in Arizona and he has stage 3 lung cancer he added me on his will does his ex wives have any claim on his will even thought they weren’t married less then 10 years?
I bought a house with my Navajo girlfriend the house is in my name only were not married but she pays electric n water to stay here 20 years with her daughter we broke up 5 years ago its time to sell how much profit is she entitled to ..i pay 70% off all bills 22 yeaes with proof
What if you are married in az , spouse passes , we bought property together (married ) what are my resources to aquire authenticity of known property ? .
16yrs ago I was wooed by my mental health doctor , as my bf and I Then were living together in a Rentsl, he told me to choose a place to buy for us to build our lives together, he gave me power of attorney to sign all docs on house. We moved out of town. Was so happy. Caught him cheating in first month , but he stayed in our relationship going forward. Said he loved me He was deployed and then I rarely saw him off and on for years. Felt abandoned but he continued to pay the house payment . I paid all else. Upkeep etc Then while at home I caught him cheating with pics on his phone again After 5 yrs, I tried to move out but he insisted I stayed . Begged me . Said he loved me . Shortly afterwards he rarely visited
Now I’ve been traumatized by all this plus being a mental patient with ptsd, and borderline personality and abandonment problems . He entered the home in middle of night to give me and eviction notice. Not filed . Can he do this ?