美国普通法婚姻的起源和兴衰

自9世纪到1563年、10世纪到1753年,普通法婚姻分别在欧洲大陆和英格兰得到了教会的承认。在殖民地时期,英属的部分北美殖民地和西班牙属的殖民地予以承认,英属的另一部分殖民地和法属殖民地未予以承认。美国建国之后到19世纪中后期,大多数州承认了普通法婚姻。到了2005年,只有11个州和哥伦比亚特区予以承认。不复承认的理由主要是:人口集中、交通改善、政府公务人员或牧师不再短缺;承认普通法婚姻危害交易安全、危害种族健康、诱发欺诈行为、危害统计数据的准确;非婚生子女地位得到改善。

Common Law Marriage in the US:Development and Decline

From the 9th Century to 1563 and from the 10th century to 1753,common law marriage was recognized in European continent and England by church respectively.During the colony period,some American colonies occupied by England and colony occupied by France,it was recognized,while in other American colonies occupied by England and colony occupied by Spain,it was not.Since the foundation of United States to middle and late term of the 19th Century,most States recognize it.However,by 2005 only 11 States and District of Columbia recognize it.The reasons to abolish are population reside collectively,good transportation,adequacy of official of minister authorized to perform ceremony of marriage,its constituting threat to transaction safety,statistics and eugenics,promoting fraud,and improvement of legal status of illegitimate children.