In Iowa This Type of Marriage is Still Legal

I've seen many nuptials. If I had to count I'd be close to 200. Not even close to the number of weddings my fellow DJs worked but that's their marriage story 😁. I originally became an officiant for my cousin. I did double duty on that one, officiant and photographer. My wife and I agree that was the best food we've had at any wedding. Probably the worst officiant and photographer my cousin had so it was a fair trade-off.

Weddings can be fun but to be married you don't always have to have one. That's not always a bad thing. The cost of a wedding can be uber expensive. The DJ company I worked for was not cheap and sometimes we were one of the least expensive things about the wedding.

What if you could get married, save the wedding cost, and save a trip to the magistrate? In Iowa, you can. Well, it takes a little longer and has some grey areas but if you're cool with that kind of marriage, common law could be for you. According to FindLaw.com there are only a handful of states, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, and one district, Washington DC, that recognize common law marriage.

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What is common law marriage?

The People's Law Library of Iowa says common law marriage in Iowa is a 'non-ceremonial relationship that is established through cohabitation and public recognition. To be considered common law married in Iowa, a couple must meet the following requirements:

1) Mutual agreement: Both parties must agree to be married

2) Continuous cohabitation: The couple must live together continuously as spouses

3) Public presentation: The couple must present themselves publicly as a married couple

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Who Decides if you're common law married?

When you get married outside of a common law marriage you get a certificate and on that date and you're married. Well, once the certificate gets to the clerk, then you're married. With common law, there is no specific amount of time for establishing a marriage. The Iowa Legal Aid says the legal system is the final arbiter as to whether a couple is common law married and will decide on a case-by-case basis.

Photos of The Iowa Hawkeyes Vs. Troy Trojans September 14, 2024

The Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Troy Trojans, 38 to 21, on September 14, 2024. I took these pictures with my first press pass, thanks to U of I. After reviewing over 3,000 pictures I think these are decent enough to share. I hope you enjoy them.

Gallery Credit: Sloppy Joe