Understanding Common Law Marriage in Oklahoma

For many, the concept of common law marriage may seem distant, antiquated, or just simply boring, but the evolution of this term can be traced back to ancient legal traditions that stretch across generations, even in today’s world. For Oklahoma residents, the question remains: “is Oklahoma a common law marriage state?” This legal question has been the subject of various court cases and rulings, including Nichols v. Nichols (1933), which stated “the marriage relation is a matter of contract and not procedure.”

In Oklahoma, the value of tradition has long influenced many legal proceedings and practices. To define the history of common law marriage in Oklahoma and its implications, the topic must be explored in relation to cultural heritage. As the world changes, so too do the ways in which people consider marital bonds. However, for the people of Oklahoma, what if the law were to consider a contract of a more traditional sort? A marriage that could potentially date back to the 1300s. To understand how these concepts continue to interlink with each other, this article will examine some of the following points:

It was in 1933 that the aforementioned Nichols vs. Nichols case mandated that particular coverage items would be excluded from the consideration of common law marriages. Even when these cases were published, they raised interesting questions about contractual agreements and the heritage that underlies them. Today, the concept of legal marriage is often tied to cultural ones, where many traditions can be almost synonymous with religion. According to the comprehensive overview of common law marriage in Oklahoma, legal definitions and recent court rulings must be upheld to a modern standard to ensure that legal understanding of culture is representative of many in the state.