Common Law or Cohabitation: A Primer for Couples’ Counselors

Understanding variations in conjugal relationships can help counselors and clients cocreate a template for these relationships in terms of their interactions with the broader society and as related to the legal standing of sanctioned marriage. Such a framework can help clients make informed decisions about the present status and future aspirations of these relationships keeping in mind their legal standing and ramifications. This article offers a basic understanding of the practices of common-law marriage and cohabiting relationships offering implications for clinical service, preparation of knowledgeable couples’ counselors, and future study