{"id":1584,"date":"2021-08-06T13:00:25","date_gmt":"2021-08-06T17:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/?p=1584"},"modified":"2024-04-25T23:19:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T03:19:28","slug":"yes-common-law-marriage-still-exists-this-year-colorado-included-same-sex-couples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/yes-common-law-marriage-still-exists-this-year-colorado-included-same-sex-couples\/","title":{"rendered":"Yes, Common-Law Marriage Still Exists. This Year, Colorado Included Same-Sex Couples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/common-law-marriage.jpg\" alt=\"Small square pieces of wood with letters printed on them, Arranged to spell out the word equality.\" class=\"wp-image-1585\" width=\"959\" height=\"310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/common-law-marriage.jpg 959w, https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/common-law-marriage-300x97.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/common-law-marriage-768x248.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 959px) 100vw, 959px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It might be overlooked with all of today\u2019s medical,\npolitical and financial tensions. But marriage equality is progressing well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>In the 2015 <em>Obergefell v. Hodges <\/em>decision,\nthe&nbsp;U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;held that \u201cthe reasons marriage is fundamental\nunder the Constitution apply with equal force to same-sex couples.\u201d <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>In 2016, the U.S. Department of Housing and\nUrban Development completed a set of rules&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hud.gov\/LGBT_resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">prohibiting housing\ndiscrimination<\/a>&nbsp;because of gender identity or sexual\norientation. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>And in 2021, Colorado became the first U.S. state\nto include same-sex couples in its definition of common-law marriage.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Why might a partner want to prove a common-law marriage has\noccurred? Perhaps to ensure fair division of the couple\u2019s assets after the\nrelationship breaks down. Perhaps to receive an inheritance without a will from\na partner who died without a will. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Colorado\u2019s Before-and-After Views of Common-Law Marriage<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This year, Colorado\u2019s Supreme Court adopted a gender-neutral\nstandard for common-law marriage. Now, when a Colorado court determines whether\na couple is married under the common law, it looks to the couple\u2019s intent and conduct\nsupporting that intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The previous standard in Colorado, dating from 1987, applied\na boilerplate-style set of formal facts to find a common-law marriage. Judges\nwent down the list looking for things like joint tax returns, and both parties\nhaving the man\u2019s last name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But marriage is evolving, and couples are unique. Plus, the\ncontext of their relationships \u2014 including cultural factors \u2014 must be considered.\nOne couple, for example, could say \u201cpartner\u201d to mean marriage partner, while another\ndoesn\u2019t. Some couples take on a single last name. Some take both names. Some\njust keep their original last names. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Colorado\u2019s new standard will tap the wisdom of judges as to\nhow social realities impact same-sex couples, too. They might ask: \u201cWhy do these\ntwo people in court today hesitate to hold themselves out as married?\u201d There\ncan be many reasons. Research published by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.freddiemac.com\/research\/consumer-research\/20181001_lgbt_homeownership.page?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Freddie Mac<\/a>&nbsp;shows that same-sex home buyers have\nserious concerns about discrimination. They\u2019re right. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/feature\/nbc-out\/same-sex-borrowers-73-percent-more-likely-be-denied-mortgage-n996016\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lender bias<\/a> is common. So, just because a couple\nkeeps a relationship low-profile doesn\u2019t mean they don\u2019t have a common-law\nmarriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where Common-Law Marriage Exists <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To be sure, common-law marriage has been in decline in\nrecent decades. Colorado, plus the District of Columbia and the following\nstates, acknowledge common-law marriage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Alabama (if entered before Jan. 1, 2017)<\/li><li>Georgia (before 1997)<\/li><li>Idaho (before 1996)<\/li><li>Iowa<\/li><li>Kansas<\/li><li>Montana<\/li><li>Ohio (before Oct. 10, 1991)<\/li><li>Oklahoma<\/li><li>Pennsylvania (before 2005)<\/li><li>Rhode Island<\/li><li>South Carolina<\/li><li>Texas<\/li><li>Utah<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And New Hampshire recognizes common-law marriages for\ninheritance distribution only. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your common-law marriage is valid in its own state, it is valid in other states, too. Also, even in states that have phased out common-law marriage, the status may still be proven if the relationship was entered into when your home state recognized it. (Kudos to <em><a href=\"https:\/\/lgbtbar.org\/bar-news\/retroactive-common-law-marriage-provides-pathway-to-rights-benefits-for-same-sex-couples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">The LGBT Bar<\/a><\/em> for so clearly laying this out!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Helpful for All Committed Couples Who Don\u2019t Fit the Traditional Profile<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Colorado is the first to update common-law marriage into a\ngender-neutral form. The update will be helpful not only for same-sex couples,\nbut also for Colorado residents who don\u2019t fit the traditional marriage profile.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today\u2019s marriage partners don\u2019t all prepare taxes jointly,\nhold insurance policies together, or share the titles to their cars. Many life\npartners, no matter their sex or gender identity, opt not to raise children\ntogether, and their styles of homeownership vary to suit their unique situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also notable is the Colorado Supreme Court\u2019s recognition\nthat same-sex couples may have been in a common-law marriage even <em>before <\/em>2015,\nwhen same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide. This is important because the length\nof a marriage can qualify life partners for certain benefits. And if the\nrelationship breaks down, the length of the marriage is an important factor when\na court oversees the fair and proper \u00ad\u00ad\u00addistribution of assets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Colorado Marriages Are Deemed Partnerships<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Colorado and most other states look at marriage as a\npartnership. This view applies to common-law marriages as well. After one\npartner passes away, the law directs the survivor to receive a certain portion\nof the estate in probate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Colorado is not a <em>community property<\/em> state. Colorado\n(like most states) uses the <em>equitable distribution<\/em> model should the\nmarriage dissolve. This means the couple\u2019s assets, including a jointly owned\nhome, are divided fairly under the circumstances \u2014 if, that is, the partners\nhaven\u2019t successfully agreed on how to divide what they own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But some couples do buy homes in community property states,\nsuch as Arizona, Texas, California, Idaho, New Mexico, Louisiana, Nevada,\nWashington,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Wisconsin. And some use special <em>community property\ntrusts<\/em> (see <a href=\"https:\/\/lawprofessors.typepad.com\/trusts_estates_prof\/2019\/09\/estate-planning-in-tennessee-could-you-benefit-from-a-community-property-trust.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tennessee<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/sdlegislature.gov\/Statutes\/Codified_Laws\/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=StatuteChapter&amp;Statute=55-17\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">South Dakota<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.touchngo.com\/lglcntr\/akstats\/Statutes\/Title34\/Chapter77\/Section100.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alaska<\/a>). Consider California, where a couple owns\nall the assets and debts accumulated by either or both of them during a life\npartnership. They may opt to hold community property with a right of\nsurvivorship, or not. If they wish, they can deliberately&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.courts.ca.gov\/1039.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vest\nassets as sole and separate property<\/a>&nbsp;as individuals. And each\npartner owns what was theirs before their marriage, or individually inherited. What\ndoes this mean for the house title? The house <em>can <\/em>be titled in just one\npartner\u2019s name. To remain the sole possession of only one person, it has to be\ncarefully maintained with money drawn from a separate account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Community property can have significant tax advantages. In\nstates that recognize it, residents should speak with their tax experts before\nvesting home ownership. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And this brings us to\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Same-Sex Couples Can Vest Their Home Titles<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>LGBTIQ home buyers need to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/hows-your-property-vested-it-matters-as-much-as-your-will-or-trust\/\">vest\ntheir deeds<\/a>&nbsp;appropriately. They should ask themselves the\nfollowing four questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nWill the Partners Have Rights of Survivorship?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A deed&nbsp;may name life partners as&nbsp;<em>joint tenants\nwith the right of survivorship<\/em>, so the surviving owner is protected if one person\npasses away. No need to go through probate. No will contests. After recording the\ndeath certificate and an&nbsp;affidavit of survivorship, the surviving owner\nbecomes the sole title holder. Co-owners (married or single) own equal shares\nif they vest their house title with survivorship rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Traditionally, couples tend to hold their property as joint\ntenants with rights of survivorship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nOr Do They Prefer to Bequeath Their Interests to\nOthers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Increasingly, co-owners are deciding not to pass their\ntitles to each other upon death. Some co-owners might have children from\nprevious relationships, and want to name them in a will. If the two partners&nbsp;are<em>\ntenants in common, <\/em>then either one may leave their interest to their own\nchildren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thinking of vesting your title this way? In the future, your\npartner could then co-own the house with your adult child. Be sure that\npossibility makes sense to all of you. For life partners with children from\nprior relationships, rights and responsibilities can be complicated. Consult a\nfamily law expert before vesting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nWill They Share Ownership in Equal or Unequal Percentages?\n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Couples could also opt to hold property as tenants in common\nin order to divide the homeownership in different percentages. For example, the\ntitle could say Martin owns 60% while Mario owns 40%. Perhaps Mario is paying a\nlower portion of the mortgage. (A mortgage lender usually insists that both\nco-owners are named as borrowers on the mortgage.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we noted above, should one owner die during the tenancy\nin common, the home won\u2019t automatically vest in the co-owner. Indeed, at any\ntime, either owner is free to transfer or will their individual interests to anyone\n\u2014 to each other, or someone else. Some partners use a will or&nbsp;a <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/update-the-state-of-the-transfer-on-death-deed\/\">transfer\non death deed<\/a><\/em> to protect a surviving partner\u2019s interest. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u261b <strong><em>Friendly reminder: <\/em><\/strong>Be sure not to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/dont-be-the-intestate-homeowner-write-your-will\/\">die\nwithout a will<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nDoes the State Allow Tenancy by the Entirety?\nIt\u2019s a Valid Choice for Same-Sex Partners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 2015, all legally married couples, same-sex couples\nincluded, may title their home as a tenancy by the entirety (TBE). It\u2019s is a\nhighly protective vesting option that exists in&nbsp;several states and may apply\nto domestic partners as well. When one owner dies, the survivor automatically\nowns the property. Each co-owner is protected from most debt obligations incurred\nby the other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check your current state code, and consult a lawyer in your\nstate to draft the vesting language that suits your needs. Real estate laws\nchange (and in 2021, the Colorado Supreme Court again proved that point)! <a href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/codes\/missouri\/2017\/title-xxix\/chapter-442\/section-442.450\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Some state codes still use \u201chusband and wife\u201d or similar terms<\/a>&nbsp;in\nTBE language. Yet federal&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/house-bill\/94\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">definitions<\/a>&nbsp;of marriage partners are shifting\nto&nbsp;gender-neutral language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u261b <em>Colorado\u2019s\nstandard shows how common-law marriage can compatibly exist with a&nbsp;respect\nfor everyone\u2019s sense of self.<strong> See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/preferred-pronouns-in-real-estate-deeds\/\">Preferred Pronouns in Real Estate Deeds<\/a>\non Deeds.com to consider how the identification of people on a house deed can\nco-exist with gender neutrality, too. <\/strong>We recommend speaking&nbsp;with a\nreal estate attorney for&nbsp;advice&nbsp;and assistance on drafting an effective,\naccurate&nbsp;document.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Happens to the Title When Couples Split Up <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A state-specific&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/quitclaim-deed\/\">quitclaim deed<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;or\n<em>deed without warranty<\/em> is often used to release one party\u2019s ownership\ninterest, citing the dissolution of marriage. (<strong>Important note:<\/strong> A\nquitclaim does <em>not<\/em> release anyone from a signed mortgage agreement; that\nis a separate obligation.) Both partners must sign the quitclaim, stating that the\nquitclaiming party is releasing the <em>whole<\/em>&nbsp;property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If, after your separation, you decide to co-own your home\nwith a new partner with survivorship rights, you must use the deed to transfer\na 100% interest to both names (not just a half-interest).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>\u261b<\/em><\/strong><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/adding-someone-to-your-real-estate-deed-know-the-risks\/\">Bringing a new co-owner onto your title<\/a><\/em><\/strong><strong><em>? Seek\nprofessional legal advice to make informed decisions about financing and\ntitling your property together.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Dream of Owning a Home Together: We\u2019re All Entitled<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more about how a common-law marriage state impacts\nyour home ownership as a couple, hire a lawyer experienced in property law for\nsame-sex couples. And wherever your current marital status stands, don\u2019t forget\nto sit down with your accountant or tax expert. You\u2019ll benefit from\nprofessional guidance as applied to your own situation, and you\u2019ll learn about\ncurrent choices in real estate co-ownership that may reduce your personal\nliabilities and risks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Supporting References<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/14pdf\/14-556_3204.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Obergefell v. Hodges<\/a>, 576 U.S. 644 (2015).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Shelly Bradbury for the <em>Denver Post<\/em>:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2021\/01\/11\/colorado-common-law-marriage-same-sex-couples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Colorado\u2019s Supreme Court First in U.S. to Revamp Common-Law Marriage for Same-Sex Couples<\/a> (Jan. 11, 2021).\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>The LGBT Bar:<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/lgbtbar.org\/bar-news\/retroactive-common-law-marriage-provides-pathway-to-rights-benefits-for-same-sex-couples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Retroactive Common Law Marriage Provides Pathway to Rights &amp; Benefits for Same-Sex Couples<\/a> (May 15, 2018). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>Deeds.com<\/em>:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/lgbt-and-real-estate-ownership\/\">LGBT+ and\nReal Estate Ownership: Navigating Mortgages, Titles and Deeds<\/a> (Aug.\n24, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>Deeds.com<\/em>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/marriage-and-real-estate-a-brief-tour\/\">Marriage\nand Real Estate: A Brief Tour<\/a> (Jan, 27, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Photo credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photos\/equal-lgbt-equality-pride-rights-2495950\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Wokandapix<\/a> via Pixabay. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It might be overlooked with all of today\u2019s medical, political and financial tensions. But marriage equality is progressing well. In the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, the&nbsp;U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;held that \u201cthe reasons marriage is fundamental under the Constitution apply with equal force to same-sex couples.\u201d In 2016, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Yes, Common-Law Marriage Still Exists. 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