Wednesday, April 12, 2006
COMMON LAW MARRIAGE "NEARS EXTINCTION" IN SOUTH CAROLINA
It may not be long before one fewer state recognizes common law marriages. A House-approved bill advancing in the South Carolain Senate would end common-law marriage in the state effective January 1, 2008. Those wishing to establish common-law marriage would have to file suit to establish such a marraige prior to that date. And because common-law marriages are established either in Probate Court or in divorce proceedings in Family Court, presumably those seeking to prove the existence of a common-law marriages need to either divorce their spouses or encourage them to die in very short order.
It may not be long before one fewer state recognizes common law marriages. A House-approved bill advancing in the South Carolain Senate would end common-law marriage in the state effective January 1, 2008. Those wishing to establish common-law marriage would have to file suit to establish such a marraige prior to that date. And because common-law marriages are established either in Probate Court or in divorce proceedings in Family Court, presumably those seeking to prove the existence of a common-law marriages need to either divorce their spouses or encourage them to die in very short order.
