Informal marriages and their validity — MCQs

Two adults lived in State A for eight years. State A recognizes a common-law marriage when two adults who may lawfully marry mutually agree to be married and thereafter publicly hold themselves out as spouses. The adults privately agreed to be married, used the same surname, filed joint tax returns, and consistently introduced each other as spouses. They later moved to State B, which abolished the creation of common-law marriages but recognizes marriages validly formed where celebrated unless recognition would violate a strong public policy. Neither adult had another spouse, and their marriage would not otherwise violate State B law. After they separated, one adult retained a lawyer to seek property division and support in State B. Which of the following is the lawyer's strongest argument that the parties are married?

Two adults who have capacity to marry applied for a civil marriage license while temporarily visiting another state. They satisfied that state's age, identification, and licensing requirements and were not related to each other or married to anyone else. The clerk confirmed that the state issues marriage licenses to nonresidents but refused this application because both applicants are women. The clerk explained that the applicants' home state had historically defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The applicants retained a lawyer to seek an order requiring issuance of the license. Which of the following is the lawyer's strongest argument?

Using only the supplied file and legal resources, prepare an objective memorandum assessing whether Priya is likely to obtain permission to relocate with Leo, addressing Marco's strongest objections, identifying the most important additional evidence, and recommending immediate matter-management steps.

Two adults participated in a ceremonial marriage after obtaining a license. One spouse honestly believed that a prior marriage had ended because the former spouse had signed divorce papers. In fact, no final divorce decree had been entered. Six months later, the prior spouse obtained a final divorce. The couple then continued living together for four years, consistently represented themselves as married, and raised a child together, but they never held another ceremony. The jurisdiction recognizes common-law marriage when legally capable adults mutually intend to be married and hold themselves out as married. After the couple separated, one spouse argued that no marriage had ever existed. Which of the following is the strongest argument that the parties became legally married?