Minnesota does not recognize common-law marriage. Common-law marriage involves couples who treat each other as if they are married, hold themselves out as married and believe themselves to be married as a matter of law. Often, parties to a common-law marriage will refer to each other as husband and wife, share last names or file income tax returns together. Only 16 states (nearest being Iowa) recognize common-law marriages, and that number is shrinking. In Minnesota, parties who live together are considered cohabitants, rather than husband and wife. Unlike the marital dissolution statutes which provide that the parties shall fairly divide (usually equally) the property accumulated by both « Continue »