Common-Law Marriage
Depending on where you live, the law may provide you with a degree of protection even though you don't have a marriage license—if you and your partner live as if you are a couple for a specified period of time, or have a child. This status is not recognised under U.K. law and though it is known as common-law marriage, there is no such legal concept in England and Wales.
For more information, visit Advicenow.org.uk, a project of Advice Services Alliance, the coordinating body for independent advice services in the U.K.
