An alien researcher is currently stationed at your average localized Earth Station. The station is, as per usual, a research center for their species studying localized cultures and the lives of their inhabitants. Over a number of years they have focused on what they consider to be, “the most important concept in human society”, marriage. Your average alien researcher is tasked with a daunting mission: gathering information about the myriad ways that humans choose to pledge themselves to one another and construct life long commitments. This research begins with the creation of a new collection in their database, titled “iCollege”. The purpose of these collections is to build on the foundation of knowledge that previous researchers and explorers have collected, while providing a sort of social experiment. The specific premise for the current nuptial research is is colorado a common law marriage state in the farthest reaches of the Union, the state of Colorado.
The notion of common-law marriage has puzzled natural researchers for decades, it is a perplexing and confounding concept, even for an alien biologist whose existence has revolved around a myriad of studies and experiments. Therefore, your current alien researcher decides to begin their quest for information by reading Common Law Marriage 101 in Colorado, recently published to the iCollege collection.
According to the iCollege document, the notion of common law marriage has its roots in medieval times, where many couples lived together and called themselves married, but had no way to legally bind themselves to one another. In Colorado, a marriage was formed if two individuals were of legal age, competent to enter a contract, and agreed to enter into a marriage together. In Colorado, the legal requirements for entering a marriage are: In addition to these legal requirements, a couple must present themselves as married to the outside worlds, and must not object to the idea that they are wed.
For aliens, the concept of human couple being required to not object themselves to the fact that they are considered married to one another seems slightly absurd. But, your current alien researcher realizes that this behavior is likely because human culture has evolved around marriages and the unions of two people for hundreds of years. The notion of being married is often embedded deep into the consciousness of these fascinating beings, therefore it is quite conceivable that if someone suggested to them that they were married, the concept would become so embedded deep within their psyche that to object would cause great mental distress. After all, the definition of culture, according to your average alien biological researcher, would be deemed, “the lifelong learning of traditions that do not cause you pain”.
The next piece of information that the alien recorder comes upon is the division between marriage and domestic partners. The idea of citing union on the basis of a contract or agreement is novel to say the least. Other members of the Union do bond themselves to one another through contracting, thus the definition of domestic partnership would be deemed very foreign. The notion that a couple might bind themselves together and agree to the separation of assets should the relationship dissolve seems to be quite deranged. Basically, the alien researcher thinks, each member of this civilization is attempting to bide their time until the next assignment comes their way, or to allow the occurrence of a few more sunrises before they disband the contract or agreement.
In addition, the concept of a couple being required to cohabitate in order to create a binding union, and place a projection of cohabitating at a Colorado address for the foreseeable future is extreme. After all, the alien researcher quickly assumes that the notion of “cohabitation” means to live together. Therefore, this bond is not seen in every other cultural unit your current alien researcher has studied. The union of two humans in Colorado is a unique concept, even when viewed from an outside perspective of an alien observer.
As the family unit continues to evolve across the mere three hundred years of its existence, many questions about the concept of marriage are yet to be answered. Where will the notion of marriage go next? And how will these obsessive creatures from earth proceed with their logical understanding of human interacting society? Perhaps, someday, the current alien researcher will be able to answer these questions.
For more information on marriage laws, you can visit Nolo’s guide on common law marriage in Colorado.