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Current as of October 02, 2022 | Updated by FindLaw Staff
If a ceremonial or common-law marriage relationship cannot be established under State law, a claimant may still be found to have the relationship as spouse of an employee based upon a deemed marriage. A claimant is deemed to be the wife, husband, or widow(er) of the employee if the person's marriage to the employee would have been valid under State law except for a legal impediment, and all of the following requirements are met:
(a) The claimant married the employee in a civil or religious ceremony.
(b) The claimant went through the marriage ceremony in good faith. Good faith means that at the time of the ceremony the claimant did not know that a legal impediment existed, or if the claimant did know, he or she thought that it would not prevent a valid marriage.
(c) The claimant was living in the same household as the employee (see § 222.16) when he or she applied for the spouse annuity or when the employee died.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Code of Federal Regulations Title 20. Employees' Benefits § 20.222.14 Deemed marriage relationship - last updated October 02, 2022 | https://codes.findlaw.com/cfr/title-20-employees-benefits/cfr-sect-20-222-14/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs.
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