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Level 1
March 2, 2020
Question

Joint Filing

  • March 2, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 7 views

My wife and I have lived together since 2014 and were married in 2019. The ceremony was conducted by a licensed officiant, but, for estate purposed, we did not file a government marriage certificate. We live and pay taxes in Minnesota.

Can we file jointly without benefit of a government marriage license?

1 reply

DoninGA
Level 15
Level 15
March 2, 2020

If you did not apply for and receive a marriage license, then you are not legally married according the laws of your state for 2019.

 

To be legally married in Minnesota you have to apply for a marriage license and be married by someone authorized to perform marriages. Then you get a marriage certificate that shows you are legally married.