Common Law Marriage?

Question

What is a common law marriage in Mississippi. I have been living with my boyfriend over 5 years. I don't want to be a common law wife!

Answer 1

It's 5 years. So you are a common law wife. But it doesn't mean that you can't get married in church or anything.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Common Law marriage is based on COMMON LAW, or maybe it could be called "Universal Law" because common law is what is applied by the populace on their own outside of specified statutes. So unless people are living together differently in Mississippi than anywhere else in the world, then Common Law is the same in Mississippi as anywhere else. That's what makes it "Common".

So I'm sorry to tell you this, but if you have been living with your boyfriend for more than 5 years as a couple, and you share a bed, meals, expenses, etc, where you could say that you have done everything that a married couple has done, except sign a marriage certificate, then you are IN A COMMON LAW MARRIAGE.

I'm sorry, but that makes you a "Common Law Wife". If that is not what you want, then I guess you've got some thinking to do.

Answer 4

It may be too late already. I don't know about Mississippi, but I remember being warned in the Army when about to head off to Fort Bliss about "shacking up" with the local girls--one recently won a financial judgment against a soldier who didn't take his girlfriend with him when he was reassigned to another base. She, successfully, demonstrated that she had lived with him for over 6-months and was his common law wife, so she deserved his financial support.

In most places, however, there is an extra feature that is required--have you been publicly portraying or portrayed as his spouse? If there are financial or social documents or witnesses that portray you as husband and wife, then you may be sunk.

Interestingly, in a recent episode of "The Unit" a soldier died in Iraq or Afghanistan and his "shack up" was told she would be evicted by the end of the day, and the two children she had been caring for were going to be delivered to two previously-disinterested grandparents. She insisted that marriage is just a piece of paper. The officer replied, that piece of paper would allow you to stay and stay with those two children.

Answer 5

I live in outside Jackson Mississippi I believe common law is after 7 years "living together" living!! Then it is common Law....It being married in the eyes of the state...But I am not sure if Mississippi is ack a attorney? I heard MS was not common Law!

Answer 6

You will have to check with the State of MIssissippi, different states have different laws regarding Common Law.

Answer 7

Common-law marriage can no longer be contracted in Mississippi, since 1956.

Answer 8

I am not sure about mississippi but the state of Ohio no longer has common law marriage. You should call your local court house they will be able to give the specifics for your state.

Answer 9

Mississippi doesn't recognize common law marriage.

http://www.unmarried.org/common.html

http://family-law.freeadvice.com/ms_common_law_marriage.htm

Answer 10

You are a common law wife. Of course, it really only applies if you guys break up and one of you wants to push the issue. You could make him divorce you if you break up and vice versa.