FOREIGN CIVIL UNION NOT A COMMON LAW MARRIAGE

    American Air Lines, Inc. v. Mejia, Fla. Dist. Ct. App. No. 4D99-1719,     http://pub.bna.com/fl/1719.htm (3/1/00).

    FOREIGN LEGALLY RECOGNIZED PARTNERSHIPS – COMMON LAW MARRIAGE.

What Colombian law recognizes as a "de facto marital union" is not a common law marriage, a Florida State appeals court decides.  Such unions are not considered marriages under Colombian law.  They are somewhat informal although they are legally recognized.  For example, they can be ended simply by one of the partners marrying somebody else, without a divorce being required to end the relationship.  Also, children born of such a union are deemed bastards under Colombian law unless the father legitimizes them.  This case arose from a wrongful death suit by the surviving “spouse”.