What Is A Common-Law State?
A common law state is a locality that allows common-law marriage. In these states, couples who pass a set of criteria are considered married, even without a marriage ceremony or a valid marriage license.
How Does Virginia Treat Common Law Marriages?To be considered married in Virginia, a couple must be wed as witnessed and officiated by a legal authority; they must also have a signed marriage license.
However, Virginia does recognize common-law marriages created in other states as valid. That said, when a person is in a recognized common law marriage outside of Virginia wishes to be wed, the common-law marriage must be dissolved before he or she is allowed to marry in Virginia. Read more https://www.coastalvirginialaw.com/is-virginia-a-common-law-state