New Jersey Lawyer Blog
You have probably heard the terms “common law marriage” and “palimony.” A common law marriage is one in which two people live together for a long time without the formality of a marriage license, a wedding ceremony, or a marriage certificate. The pair present themselves to the public as a married couple. Palimony is an informal name given as spousal support to one of the parties when such a relationship dissolves.
Some states recognize common law marriage. In those states, couples in this type of arrangement are afforded many of the same benefits as those in traditional marriages. What you might not know is that New Jersey is not among those states.
Rise of Cohabitation