What Is Common Law Marriage?

Common law marriage is when two people live together without obtaining a license or having a wedding and the legal system recognizes the relationship as a marriage. Common law marriage is generally not recognized in Nebraska. Some states recognize this as a form of marriage, but have requirements such as a setting a specific number of years the couple must live together. Common Law Marriages are only recognized in Nebraska when a couple previously lived in a state that recognized the relationship as valid. In these cases proceedings similar to a divorce are conducted to divide the property.