Is there common law marriage in the Mountain State?

Danielle Sandler
·1 min read

GHENT, WV (WVNS) — Getting married is a life-changing decision between two people who love each other and want to be together.

Do you need a witness to get married in West Virginia?

However, if you have been with someone you love for so long, a formal marriage ceremony might not be something you and your significant other prefer. With this being the case, is there common-law marriage in West Virginia?

Sometimes, the definition of marriage can be unclear. Common-law marriage, according to FindLaw is defined as a legal marriage that is also informal. This means that the married couple never had a wedding ceremony and never got a marriage license, or certificate.

According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, the state of West Virginia does not have a provision in State law about common-law marriage. Anyone that has this type of relationship in a state that recognizes common-law marriages will only be considered married for Department purposes.

States that do recognize common-law marriage, according to World Population Review are as followed:

  • Alabama

  • Colorado

  • District of Columbia

  • Georgia

  • Idaho

  • Iowa

  • Kansas

  • Montana

  • New Hampshire

  • Ohio

  • Oklahoma

  • Pennsylvania

  • Rhode Island

  • South Carolina

  • Texas

  • Utah

How romantic are West Virginia residents?

Depending on how you want to live with your spouse and how you define your relationship can be your choice. However, If you are curious about the different types of marriages, you can look up the marriage laws within your state and how they define them.

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