Living Together Is Not Marriage
MCL 551.2 — consent alone has not made a marriage since January 1, 1957
In Michigan, marriage is a civil contract to which the consent of the parties is essential, but consent alone is not enough to make a legal marriage on and after January 1, 1957.
A license and a solemnization. Consent must be followed by obtaining a license as the marriage statutes require, and solemnization as the chapter authorizes.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionLiving together long enough makes a marriage | What the law actually doesConsent alone has not been enough since January 1, 1957 |
| The assumptionA private promise between the two is a marriage | What the law actually doesA license and a solemnization must follow it |
A marriage validly formed in another state, property and support claims between unmarried partners, and how a marriage ends are separate questions this page does not answer. Whether a particular relationship is a marriage is a question for a licensed Michigan attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- MCL 551.2 — Marriage as civil contract; consent; license; solemnization
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.