Ala. Code
Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 30-1-20 (2026)

Common-Law Marriage Abolished.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
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(a) No common-law marriage may be entered into in this state on or after January 1, 2017.

(b) An otherwise valid common-law marriage entered into before January 1, 2017, shall continue to be valid in this state.

(Act 2016-306, §1.)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2017–2023 · leading case: In re Marriage of Hogsett & Neale, 2021 CO 1 (Colo. 2021).
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In re Marriage of Hogsett & Neale, 2021 CO 1 (Colo. 2021). “, Ala. Code § 30-1-20 (a) (1975) (prohibiting parties from entering into a common law marriage on or after January 1, 2017); 23 Pa.”
In re the Marriage of Edi L. HOGSETT v. Marcia E. NEALE, 478 P.3d 713 (Colo. 2021). “, Ala. Code § 30-1-20 (a) ( 1975 ) ( prohibiting parties from entering into a common law marriage on or after January 1, 2017 ) ; 23 Pa.”
Blalock v. Sutphin, 275 So. 3d 519 (Ala. 2018). · cites it 2× “See § 30-4-17(e) ("Provisions revoked solely by this section are revived by the divorced individual's remarriage to the former spouse or by a nullification of the divorce or annulment."). Because we must presume that the circuit court's findings of fact are correct, we affirm…”
Morrow v. Dillard, 257 So. 3d 316 (Ala. Civ. App. 2017). “…has provided that "[n]o common-law marriage may be entered into in this state on or after January 1, 2017." § 30-1-20(a), Ala. Code 1975.”
Dunning v. Mayhew, 240 So. 3d 616 (Ala. Civ. App. 2017). “The common-law marriage at issue in this case was entered into before January 1, 2017, the effective date of § 30-1-20, Ala. Code 1975, which provides that "[n]o common-law marriage may be entered into in this state on or after January 1, 2017," but that "[a]n otherwise valid…”
Blalock v. Sutphin, 275 So. 3d 519 (Ala. 2018). · cites it 2× “See § 30-4-17(e) ("Provisions revoked solely by this section are revived by the divorced individual's remarriage to the former spouse or by a nullification of the divorce or annulment."). Because we must presume that the circuit court's findings of fact are correct, we affirm…”
Stone v. Thompson (S.C. 2019). “Alabama became the most recent state to do so, enacting Ala. Code 1975 § 30-1-20 in 2016. See Blalock v.”
Harbin v. Estess, 267 So. 3d 300 (Ala. 2018). “2017) : "The common-law marriage at issue in this case was entered into before January 1, 2017, the effective date of § 30-1-20, Ala. Code 1975, which provides that '[n]o common-law marriage may be entered into in this state on or after January 1, 2017,' but that '[a]n otherwise…”
Harbin v. Estess, 267 So. 3d 300 (Ala. 2018). “2017) : "The common-law marriage at issue in this case was entered into before January 1, 2017, the effective date of § 30-1-20, Ala. Code 1975, which provides that '[n]o common-law marriage may be entered into in this state on or after January 1, 2017,' but that '[a]n otherwise…”
Shana Lane Ellison v. Donald Elbert Stokes (Ala. Civ. App. 2023). “Section 30-1-20, Ala. Code 1975, provides that on or after January 1, 2017, common-law marriage is no longer legal in this state but that a valid common-law marriage entered into before January 1, 2017, shall continue to be valid.”
— Ala. Code § 30-1-20(a) — 1 case
Morrow v. Dillard, 257 So. 3d 316 (Ala. Civ. App. 2017). “…has provided that "[n]o common-law marriage may be entered into in this state on or after January 1, 2017." § 30-1-20(a), Ala. Code 1975.”
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