What is Common Law Marriage & Does Alabama Need It?

Recent reports on the Christopher Rich murder trial have brought up the question of common law marriage in this state. How "common" is it? Below is a list of states that recognize such a union:

Alabama
Colorado
Georgia (if created before 1/1/97)
Idaho (if created before 1/1/96)
Iowa
Kansas
Montana
New Hampshire (for inheritance purposes only)
Ohio (if created before 10/10/91)
Oklahoma (possibly only if created before 11/1/98. Oklahoma's laws and court decisions may be in conflict about whether common law marriages formed in that state after 11/1/98 will be recognized.)
Pennsylvania (if created before 1/1/05)
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Washington, D.C.

As you can see, the list is diminishing. Here in Alabama, just what constitutes a common-law marriage? There are three requirements for such a marriage to be valid:

The requirements for a common-law marriage are: (1) capacity; (2) an agreement to be husband and wife; and (3) consummation of the marital relationship.

Using these criteria, Christopher Rich and his victim Hollie Newbury were never married since they never agreed to be husband and wife. We have read of miscreants using the common-law principal to their advantage. When the infamous Tommy Arthur murdered his girlfriend's sister, he claimed a common-law marriage that allowed his girlfriend, a witness to the crime, immunity from testifying. How sad that any woman would prefer Tommy Arthur over her own sister.

Is it time for Alabama to join a growing number of states in outlawing this archaic institution? We say yes. We welcome opposing view points...

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More on ProShot Concrete: ProShot and Illegal Immigration



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What Is ProShot Concrete?

The answer is obviously not a business that uses E-Verity. The producer of concrete products has offices on Musgrove Drive in Florence and in Palm Harbor, Florida. Below is a list of top ranking employees with the organization.


It's sad that now their principal claim to fame is running afoul of the U.S. immigration laws...and it's not even September 1st yet.

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Some readers have asked why Tonya Holly and Cypress Moon productions are not waiting for star Hilary Duff to begin filming their version of Bonnie & Clyde. From Total Film:

Sheldon Turner, co-writer of 2009’s Oscar nominated Up in the Air is adapting the script from ‘Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde’ by Jeff Guinn, a non-fiction account of the legendary 1930s duo who, joined by various gang members, embarked on spree of robbery and murder.

The Neil Burger/Sheldon Turner version is set to be released in 2013. Obviously, Holly would like to see hers in theatres first. Our opinion? Wasn't Miss Duff just a little too glamorous for the part of Parker in the first place? We have faith Tanya Holly can cast a winning actress in the role.



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