Some states recognise "common law" marriages; that is, a marriage without a special cerimony.  The states that have such marriages and a discussion of them is below.

In Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Washington D.C., a couple can become married basically by just agreeing that they are married and living like they are married.
 

In New Hampshire a couple can become married after one of them dies if while they were living they agreed they were married and lived like they were married.  In other words, the marriage is not valid for any purpose except inheritance.

In Pennsylvania a couple just exchanges vows and "poof" they are married.

In Texas the couple has to sign a form provided by the state and then agree that they are married and living like they are married.

Notice that in all of these states, the couples have the INTENT to be married.  Merely living together is not enough to create a marriage!
 

Disclaimer:
I'm not an attorney.  I don't give legal advice.  Don't trust any of the information on any of these pages.  Get a real attorney if you have a legal problem.  This is just informational and you should not depend on it.
 
 

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