http://www.ksbar.org/public/public_resources/pamphlets/marriage_divorce.shtml
Common Law Marriages (From Kansas Bar Association website)
Read all and decide which applies and see a lawyer.A common law marriage is a marriage by agreement of the two persons without any formal ceremony or license. A common law marriage will be recognized in Kansas if the couple considers themselves to be married and publicly holds themselves out to be married and if they are legally eligible to marry. No minimum period of cohabitation is required.
Common Law marriages are subject to the same legal obligations and privileges that apply to marriages with licenses. Once a common law marriage is established, the couple must get a court ordered divorce to terminate the marriage.
Living Together Without Marrying
Unmarried couples living together have become more and more common. In Kansas it is no longer illegal for persons of the opposite sex to live together and share a sexual relationship without being married.
However, couples living together should be aware that although they avoid the legal obligations of marriage by doing so, they are also
denied the legal protections of marriage. If you choose to live together without marrying, you should be sure that you understand your legal rights and obligations if you buy or sell property together, have children, sign a lease or a contract, or make other important commitments.
You should know that an agreement, either informal or written, that establishes your rights and responsibilities to each other, may not be legally enforceable.
If you have questions, talk with a lawyer.
Individuals of the same sex are not permitted to marry in Kansas, but may enter into legal obligations together, including parenting.
