THEIR VIEW
Common-law marriages appear safe - that's too bad

Common-law marriages have outlived their usefulness, and they also can create legal headaches. But thanks to Myrtle Beach Republican Luke Rankin's filibuster, common law marriages appear safe in South Carolina for at least another year.

That's too bad. Rankin, a lawyer, led a spirited filibuster that helped beat down a sensible bill to end common-law marriage in this state. ...

Regardless of how long a couple has lived together or how intertwined their finances, they are not "common-law married" until a judge rules they are. And if estates are large or family relationships contentious, a lower judge's ruling can be appealed, all the way to the South Carolina Supreme Court. ...

Common-law marriages served a purpose at one time. Many decades ago, it was tough for people in many rural parts of the state to travel to the county courthouse to get married.

Times certainly have changed. Traditional couples - that's a man and woman in South Carolina - can get hitched over their lunch hour. ...

It's easy for couples to tie the knot if they want the benefits of marriage. And it's high time our state Legislature made this a requirement.

The Greenville News