2025 -- H 5258

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LC000960

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES--

COMMON LAW MARRIAGE

     Introduced By: Representative Julie A. Casimiro

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2025

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 15-3 of the General Laws entitled "Solemnization of Marriages" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     15-3-5.1. Common law marriage abolished.

     (a) No common law marriage may be entered into in this state on or after January 1, 2026.

     (b) An otherwise valid common law marriage entered into or adjudicated to exist before

January 1, 2026 shall continue to be valid in this state.

     SECTION 2. Section 15-1-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 15-1 entitled "Persons Eligible

to Marry" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     15-1-7. Marriage codification.

     Marriage is the legally recognized union of two (2) people. Terms relating to the marital

relationship or familial relationships shall be construed consistently with this section for all

purposes throughout the law, whether in the context of statute, administrative or court rule, policy,

common law, or any other source of civil law.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC000960

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES--

COMMON LAW MARRIAGE

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     This act would abolish common law marriages entered into in this state on or after January

1, 2026, while recognizing the validity of any common law marriage entered into or adjudicated to

exist before January 1, 2026.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000960

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