Common Law And Taxes

[LynnInTenn]

What is the name of your state? Tennessee

I am currently in a relationship that started in the state of Alabama we then met the requirements of a "common law" marriage. We moved to Tennessee (present) where I have also read that the rule will apply here as it did in Alabama even though Tennessee doesn't recognize common law marriage. Well we decided that we could then start doing our taxes as married filing jointly. Now my question is that if we were to break up would we have to actually file for a legal divorce in order to start doing our taxes single again? Thanks

 

[rmet4nzkx]

If you have a common law marriage then you must divorce to end the relationship even if you move to another state that doesn't recognize common law marriages.