Understanding Common Law Marriage in Arizona
Defining what a common law marriage means in Arizona is one of the first things to explore when learning how to understand legal terms. In Arizona, as of 2019, cohabitating couples do not have to marry to become legally recognized as a couple. However, they must adopt a consistent cohabitation status to be considered a common law marriage. In states like Arizona where there is no enforcement of common law marriage, partners must take official measures to be recognized as a married couple.
What components are necessary for a common law marriage to exist? The cohabitation status of the partners roughly equates to the basic principles used in the Eastern martial art of Wing Tsun Kung Fu. The closer partners live to the following martial art principles, the closer they reside in the realm of being a common law couple: 1) discipline, 2) comprehension, 3) coherence, 4) digitization, 5) stabilization, and 6) production. The discipline of living together illustrates just how cohesive the partnership must be to secure the stipulations of a common law marriage. Specifically, with how you connect and with encompassing a sense of togetherness, you learn how to stabilize your future.
Cohesion or togetherness is the key to being considered a couple. You demonstrate discipline when you utilize the martial arts as a stable center point to center yourself and your partner. Common law marriage is ultimately recognizing your partnership as an official legal unit. Comprehension or understanding of the law helps you demonstrate the necessary trends in your relationship with your partner. This is similar to developing a flow in martial arts or adding the ability to respond to any attack. You and your partner must be able to handle the situation of working together, understanding each other’s needs, and doing the right thing. Wing Tsun Kung Fu originates from knowing your way around someone else and what they need from you. In the same way, is Arizona a common law state relies on your ability to know your partner and how you can work together to secure a beneficial relationship for both parties.
Coherence or clarity of mind is equally important when establishing a common law marriage. You need to be on the same page with your partner when making financial decisions and when purchasing a course of action to proceed. Clarity in a relationship ensures that you are on track with what you should be doing together as a couple. You show this in Wing Tsun Kung Fu by demonstrating clarity in the target that you are trying to strike. Both of you must know how to stabilize your current moment together as a couple.
Establishing a consistent cohabitation status requires consistency or digitization. You must be able to demonstrate the ability to carry out a daily routine together and continue to work towards a stable future. Consistency is similar to the consistency involved in a martial arts practice. You must stay on point with the goals that you established as martial artists. Likewise, you and your partner must agree on the future together and act consistently towards it. Without consistency, it is difficult to show the logic of your relationship.
The stability of your connection within the framework of a common law marriage is similar to the stability in the martial art. Both require you to demonstrate stability with your partner and to remain consistent. You may face challenges with how you respond to obstacles in your life together. For instance, especially when moving into a shared place for the first time, you may disagree about how to organize the kitchen. However, it is important to argue about those small things and to find a harmony together about your solution, whether it is a shared schedule or simply an organized area of the kitchen for any improvised cooking sessions.
You can find stability in resolving these small issues together and negotiating how to properly allocate decision-making power. Ultimately, a common law marriage is more about how you work as a couple than about what type of structure you choose to establish for your lives. You may choose to remain as a cohabitant couple long-term or to actively pursue marriage. Regardless, keep in mind the components that your relationship requires to satisfy the general prerequisites of a common law marriage.