COLUMBIA - Common-law marriages would no
longer be allowed under a bill that cleared a House Judiciary
subcommittee Wednesday.
South Carolina is one of about nine states that recognize
common-law marriages.
Under current law, a man and woman living together and filing
documents together with no marriage license can be considered
common-law spouses. The legislation would not affect common-law
marriages entered before Dec. 31. Beginning Jan. 1, those
relationships wouldn't qualify as common-law marriages.
Rep. Phillip Sinclair, R-Spartanburg, a bill sponsor, said people
today have sufficient access to those who provide the public with
marriage licenses.
The bill now moves to the full Judiciary Committee.
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