HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 800        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1169

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Ruth B. Balser, (BY REQUEST)

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to recognize common law marriage in the Commonwealth.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Linda Bonica McMullen

45 Pelham St. Newton Center, MA 02459

1/13/2015

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

9/12/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 800        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1169

By Ms. Balser of Newton (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1169) of Linda Bonica McMullen and David M. Rogers for legislation to recognize common law marriage in the Commonwealth.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1192 OF 2013-2014.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act to recognize common law marriage in the Commonwealth.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 207 § 59

Persons cohabiting and acknowledging each other as spouse, and generally reputed to be such, for 3 years shall thereafter be deemed to have been legally married.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to render any common-law marriage, otherwise lawful, invalid by reason of the failure to take out a license or follow solemnization procedures as provided by this chapter.