Living Together Is Not Marriage
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 451.040 — common-law marriages are null and void
In Missouri, the marriage license section says that common-law marriages are null and void.
The license. A previously obtained license is required, and a license is void after thirty days from its issuance. A marriage is not invalid for want of authority in the person who solemnized it if it was consummated with the full belief of either party that they were lawfully joined.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionMissouri recognizes common-law marriage after enough years | What the law actually doesCommon-law marriages are null and void |
| The assumptionA license is good indefinitely | What the law actually doesVoid after thirty days from its issuance |
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 Missouri attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 451.040 — Marriage license required; common-law marriages void
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Missouri attorney.