Does Arizona Recognize Common Law Marriage?
You may believe that two adults who live together for seven years are considered married by default, or in a “common law” marriage. It is important to understand that Arizona does not recognize common law marriage.
This means that, even if you have been living together as a married couple, without a legal Arizona marriage your live-in partner will not be the beneficiary of your estate unless you legally designate them as such. Similarly, should your relationship come to an end, there will be no division of community property. Assets will belong to the person whose name is on them regardless of whether you had been splitting the payments.
It should be noted, however, that if you are married by common law in a state that permits such unions and then relocate to Arizona, your marriage may be recognized as valid.
Rideout Law Group handles cases throughout the entire state of Arizona, with offices located in Scottsdale and Lake Havasu City. Our attorneys are experienced in handling family law cases. For a free consultation, call 480-584-3328.