Common Law Wife

[rddmes]

My question involves marriage law for the State of: West Virginia - i married my ex-wife in 1998 and she divorced me a month later and had it annulled. we have lived together ever since though. if something happens to her do i have any rights to our possessions?

[panther10758]

Is she sick? What brings this on? Have write a will that will resolve everything

[jk]

My question involves marriage law for the State of: West Virginia - i married my ex-wife in 1998 and she divorced me a month later and had it annulled. we have lived together ever since though. if something happens to her do i have any rights to our possessions?

you have a right to your possessions. Sometimes that is a partial interest in a jointly owned possession you may have with the ex. You have no right to her possessions or her interest in a jointly owned property (with obvious exceptions to joint tenancy items with rights of survivorship) and those will be distributed per her will or the laws of intestate succession.

[rddmes]

all she has is car, jewelry, and personal possessions. she hasn`t seen her kids in over 15 yrs. would i have to contact them should something happen. i`m 52 and she is 74. we have been together for 13 yrs.

[jk]

You don't have to do anything but you have no right to her property and using it after her death may be looked at as criminal, depending what is involved.

[rddmes]

ok, thanks for replying to me, i really appreciate it, ron

[Betty3]

Per my two references, West Va. does not permit/recognize common law marriage anyway.