Seven-Year Customary Marriage Is Mostly a Myth
It is generally accepted that if you live with your partner for seven years, you will enter into a “civil” marriage. The idea is that after so many years, you don’t need to apply for a license to be legally married. However, as NPR explains, this is mostly a myth.
Contrary to popular belief, only 12 states recognize civil marriage. Until recently, Alabama was on this already short list, but the state is going to cancel it in January 2017. New Hampshire recognizes it for inheritance purposes only. Thus, civil marriage exists in several states, but the rules are rather vague. … Moreover, the standard “seven-year rule” is a myth. Marsha Garrison, professor of family law at Brooklyn Law School, told NPR:
By far the most common number is seven years … I still don’t understand where this could have come from and why it is seven years.
In fact, timelines do differ – most states simply say that you should live together for “a significant amount of time,” as Nolo’s legal website points out . However, in the dozens of states where civil marriage is recognized, you get all the same legal rights and tax benefits that married couples have. This also means that you must go through a formal divorce process.
Read the full story on NPR for more details.
No, after 7 years of marriage you are not in a civil marriage | NPR