Common Law Marriage and Other Legal Reasons Why Records Aren't There

Not everyone who was married in the United States had a registered marriage. Often, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries, people lived together, or had religious marriage ceremonies but no license was ever issued. These "Common Law Marriages" were just as legal as marriages with a license. In fact, 10 states today still allow such common law marriages, including Utah.You will learn what a common law marriage is. and why it exists. You will also learn how to identify if a common law marriage may exist in your own family.