Legal Question in Family Law in Colorado

Do you have toi register as a common law couple in Colorado? What is required?

We are a common law couple that lived in Colorado. However, we meet all of the requirements for common law, but were not aware you had to register as a couple. Do you have to register for a common law marraige? If not, is there some documentation that supports this that I could be refferred to? Thanks you very much


Asked on 6/01/04, 6:23 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

The Harris Law Firm, P.C The Harris Law Firm, P.C.

Re: Do you have toi register as a common law couple in Colorado? What is requir

Dear Mr. Savela,

You can be married just by signing up at the courthouse--no ceremony, no presiding official; but there's no signing up to be common law married. If you tell enough people you're married, file taxes together, put one or the other partner on the other's health insurance--you may be considered common law married in the state of Colorado. The key is that you and your significant other hold yourselves out as married to the world and the two of you agree between yourselves that you are married. I have never heard of a common law marriage registration procedure here in Colorado.

Elissa Bercovitz

(303) 299-9484

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Answered on 6/02/04, 4:09 pm
Jason Savela The Savela Law Firm, PC

Re: Do you have toi register as a common law couple in Colorado? What is requir

All that is required is to live together and hold yourself out as married. Evidence of common law marriage can be in the form of filing you taxes as married, using the same last name, informing your car insurance carrier of your marriage, telling friends and neighbors of your status etc.

You can have a civil ceremony, but not required. Any documentation/evidence that you hold yourselves out to be married should suffice.

All evidence is rebuttable, and conflicting evidence can be used to discredit your common law status. So, if your best friend says you refer to your spouse as a spouse, but your spouse's best friend says the opposite, then you likely are not married without other proof.

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Answered on 6/01/04, 6:53 pm


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