Is a divorce necessary to dissolve a common law marriage?
Not a divorce, but something like it where you divide assets. If you’ve got children, you’re looking at a custody case. Depending on what state you live in, a common law marriage can be dissolved using the same or similar procedures that would dissolve an ordinary marriage when it comes to property division and child support (if applicable). Divorce laws vary from state to state so you'll want to double-check what rules apply to your state. Depending on where you live or what your situation is, you may or may not need a divorce to end a common law marriage. Common law marriages are formed when two people agree to be married and then present themselves to the public as a married couple. If this goes on for more than a certain amount of time (which varies by state), then they are legally considered to be married. Quoting from the Tennessee State Legislature's official website: "In Tennessee, there is no such thing as common-law marriage. If a couple attempts to contra...