Where is Common-Law Marriage Recognized?
Although three-quarters of the states in the United States no longer recognize common-law marriages, the remaining states do, although with some restrictions. Alabama, Colorado, Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington D.C. recognize common-law marriages, while Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho and New Hampshire have grandfathered common-law marriages so that those which were in place before a certain date are still considered valid, however none after that date.
