StacksVerified U.S. regulatory reference

20 CFR §222.11

Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
A claimant will be considered to be the husband, wife, or widow(er) of an employee if the law of the State in which the employee has or had a permanent home would recognize that the claimant and employee were validly married, or if a deemed marriage is established.
  1. (a)Generally, State courts will find that a claimant and employee were validly married if—
    1. (1)The employee and claimant were married in a civil or religious ceremony (see § 222.12) or
    2. (2)The employee and claimant live together in a common-law marriage relationship which is recognized under applicable State law (see § 222.13), and no impediment to the marriage existed at the time it took place.
  2. (b)A deemed marriage relationship may be established as described in § 222.14.