The typical marriage involves a marriage certificate and a ceremony of some sort.  South Carolina does provide for this statutory marriage and for common law marriages.  A South Carolina Common Law Marriage is accomplish by basically living together and acting as husband and wife.  Proof of this is accomplished by having joint checking accounts, filing joint tax returns, etc.

Very few states recognize common law marriages and South Carolina take a different approach in the coming years.  With the passing of same sex marriages in California and other states following suit, South Carolina will have to decide if it will give full faith and credit to these marriages.

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