By: Hannah Jannicelli, Jones Law Firm, P.C.
Even if no one walked down the aisle, and no one said, “I do,” you still could have a common law marriage in Colorado. The separation process becomes easier when you understand the many Colorado common law marriage requirements, as this knowledge allows you to discern whether you need to involve the courts at all. So, before you file a custody case against your former partner, read this article to make sure that you don’t need to file for a divorce.
Historically, the practice of common law marriage was very popular in the western United States. This was because couples could not afford to travel a great distance for a marriage license. Now, even though travel is not a burden on most Coloradans, common law marriage continues to be recognized in the State of Colorado.
To be common law married you must meet the following five requirements:
- Be between a man and a woman,
- Each party is eighteen years or older,
- The parties lived together,
- Mutually agreed to be married,
- And Openly held yourselves out as a married couple
The Court considers the following factors when determining if the parties held themselves out as a married couple:
- The couple referred to themselves as married.
- The couple filed jointly for federal or state tax returns.
- The couple had joint finances, such as joint bank accounts, or owned property together.
- The woman took the man’s surname.
- The couple received joint public benefits
Carefully note each one of the above items that is applicable to you and the partner you plan to separate from. When the Court considers these factors, none of these factors are more important than another. If one or more of these factors apply to you, you may be common law married. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as common law divorce. Therefore, the only way for you to divorce your spouse is filing a petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the Court.
Contact Jones Law Firm, PC to discuss your specific case and the details surrounding your common law marriage in Colorado. You’ll reach our team by calling (720) 606-4818; make an appointment with our family law team who have in-depth knowledge of Colorado marriage and divorce laws.
