Personal Finance and Legal Planning

Articles in this category cover the legal side of managing money and planning for the future, including budgeting and debt issues, credit and consumer rights, taxes, insurance, retirement and investment accounts, and protecting assets. You’ll also find guidance on estate and financial planning tools such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, beneficiary designations, and planning for incapacity.

1 post

Common-Law Marriage – The 9 States Where You’re Married Without Knowing It

May 1, 2026 • By Jack Gilbert

Common-law marriage can make you legally married without a license in 9 U.S. states (and D.C.), based on your conduct. Typically, it requires capacity to marry, an agreement to be married, cohabitation, and holding yourselves out as spouses. This article explains what common-law marriage is, which jurisdictions recognize it, and how to prove or avoid […]