On Sun, 07 Nov 2004 08:37:52 -0500, Mark Roberts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Pennsylvania just passed a law this year *ending* the concept of common > law marriage. OK with me: The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center > just decided to let "unmarried domestic partners" be included in health > insurance so Lisa gets to add me to her policy as of January 1 :) > Zoiks! What a freaking minefield! When I was poking around the internet yesterday, just to get a feel for what's up with common law marriage in the US, I came across an article that said that common law marriage had been legal in Pennsylvania, until a recent court decision decided that it wasn't legal in that state. However, it was a trial decision, and no one was sure what effect it would have in terms of precedent-setting, or if it would be appealled at some point, or what. Now you're saying a law was recently passed (which I take to mean that the state legislature has passed a statute on the matter). Goes to show you that: a) Never listen to me (but you know that already, Mark <g>), and, b) Ya gotta be a practising lawyer in a particular jurisdiction to be on top of things these days. cheers, frank -- "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson
