What is a Common Law Marriage?

A Common-Law Marriage involves a couple that habitually acted as and represented themselves to others as being a married couple for a specified period of time, but was never in fact formerly and legally married to one another. While this type of marriage is recognized in other states, Florida does not recognize Common Law Marriage. Therefore, Florida’s divorce laws will not apply to a couple who is not legally married and whose only claim to marriage is under the concept of Common Law Marriage.