QUESTION
Do I need a divorce or were we never married?
Asked on Dec 15th, 2012 on Divorce - California
More details to this question:
I applied for a marriage license with my ex and we broke up before the license expired and we never did the ceremony, do I need a divorce or were we never married? I was just wondering because I don’t want her to try to take half my stuff if we were never married.
15 ANSWERS
Criminal Defense Attorney serving Calabasas, CA
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Law Office of Bernal P. Ojeda
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Never married in California.
Answered on Dec 18th, 2012 at 5:44 AM
If you never had a marriage ceremony, you are not married. Applying for a license is what gives a clergyman or other public official the right to conduct a wedding ceremony. Just be sure you never had a wedding ceremony.
Answered on Dec 18th, 2012 at 5:41 AM
Not married.
Answered on Dec 18th, 2012 at 5:32 AM
Divorce Attorney serving Frisco, TX
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Mackoy, Hernandez, Jones and Woods LLP
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If you did not have a "common law marriage", there was no marriage relationship by reason of having the license issued.
Answered on Dec 18th, 2012 at 4:10 AM
Probate Law Attorney serving Colorado Springs, CO
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John E. Kirchner
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From the limited information you have provided it does not appear you are married; but, you need to speak to any attorney in the state where you live to find out more about the statutory requirements to create a marriage; getting the license is probably not sufficient without more.
Answered on Dec 18th, 2012 at 4:03 AM
Dennis P. Mikko
Applying for a marriage license does not create a marriage. There must be a ceremony and the license must be properly signed by the person conducting the marriage. In your case, it sounds like you were never married. While the license gave your the right to marry, you never completed all the requirements.
Answered on Dec 18th, 2012 at 4:01 AM
Commercial Contracts Attorney serving Boise, ID
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Peters Law, PLLC
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It does not appear that you were married. Of course, this assumes that you got the license in a jurisdiction where the license is only permission and still must be signed by a person authorized to perform the ceremony. It is possible that some jurisdictions only require the parties to register. If you got the license in Idaho, you are not married.
Answered on Dec 17th, 2012 at 2:49 PM
If you never had a marriage ceremony and registered the license, then you were never married.
Answered on Dec 17th, 2012 at 2:48 PM
Family Law Attorney serving Los Angeles, CA
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Hammers & Baltazar, LLP
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You were never married if you did not have a ceremony.
Answered on Dec 17th, 2012 at 2:48 PM
Divorce/Family Law Attorney serving Carlsbad, CA
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Anne B. Howard, A Professional Law Corporation
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Sounds like you were never married.
Answered on Dec 17th, 2012 at 2:45 PM
I would suggest you check with the filing clerk where you took out the license. She/He will be able to tell you your marital status.
Answered on Dec 17th, 2012 at 2:45 PM
It sounds like you were never married. However, Washington law recognizes an equitable doctrine to divide property owned by parties in a committed personal relationship.
Answered on Dec 17th, 2012 at 2:45 PM
You are not married if you never did the ceremony. Just a license does not make it a marriage.
Answered on Dec 17th, 2012 at 2:44 PM
Appellate Attorney serving Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
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Musilli Brennan Associates, PLLC
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Simply because your license does not mean that you went fishing or hunting. In your case it sounds as if you never actually were married. You should see an attorney with the details.
Answered on Dec 17th, 2012 at 2:44 PM
Divorce & Separation Attorney serving Menasha, WI
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Petit & Dommershausen, S.C.
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No, you weren't married.
Answered on Dec 17th, 2012 at 2:44 PM