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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 20-1-110 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT COMMON LAW MARRIAGE IN THE STATE MAY NOT BE RECOGNIZED ON AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 2006, AND TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION FOR A COMMON LAW MARRIAGE EXISTING AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2005; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 20-1-360 RELATING TO THE VALIDITY OF A MARRIAGE CONTRACTED WITHOUT THE ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 20 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 20-1-110. A common law marriage in this State may not be recognized on and after January 1, 2006, unless it is established by sufficient proof in a court of competent jurisdiction that the common law marriage existed as of December 31, 2005."
SECTION 2. Section 20-1-360 of the 1976 Code is repealed.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect January 1, 2006.
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