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The Heart Beat The Heart Beat blog

Couple discovers marriage isn't legal 48 years later

Almost half a century of accidental shacking up.

By Kristin Wong Dec 28, 2012 6:07PM
For those who believe that marriage is just a piece of paper, this could be a good argument.
Just two years short of their golden anniversary, Norma and Bob Clark discovered their marriage was never legally recognized.
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Bob met Norma years ago, while they were students at Santa Fe State. Bob was studying to get his master's in sociology.
"I thought she was kind of cute," he said.
The two then married on August 29, 1964 in San Mateo County, California. But when they recently sent $20 to the Hall of Records to retrieve a copy of their marriage certificate, there was nothing to be found. Norma told the Redlands Daily Facts:
"I couldn't find it, and couldn't find it for a reason, because it wasn't there."
 
Apparently, the pastor who married the couple never turned in their marriage license to the county record office. Bob said he thought a trip to the county would clear things up, but his explanation wasn't enough.
"I just went in there thinking I could just do it, and she said, 'No, no, you have to have witnesses,'" Clark said. "Well, you know most people at our wedding are dead. If we had waited a couple more years, we would have been in trouble."
Since they had family in town for the holidays, the Clarks decided to give it another try. They remarried this month, and Norma's brother and sister served as witnesses in the wedding—again. The couple's son, Alexander, was also there to witness his parents exchange their vows. He said of the situation:
"My sister and I, we just kind of joked that we didn't have to throw them a 50th anniversary party anymore."
The silver lining? The Clarks made it nearly fifty years and were still excited to vow their lives together. They did, however, have a bit of advice for other married couples: make sure you actually have your marriage license.
 

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Photo: Credit: Courtesy photo

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86Comments
Dec 29, 2012 12:12AM
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this shows the ridiculousness of gov't marriage licensing...and now a state says that it wasn't legal because they didn't have some stupid paperwork. these people vowed before God and man and that's when their marriage began.  congrats to 48 years!
Dec 28, 2012 11:57PM
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However it was done, Happy 48th Anniversary!! :)
Dec 29, 2012 12:20AM
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I can't wait for some douchebag who works for the IRS to read this story and then try to hammer this wonderful couple for back taxes, penalties and interest.
Dec 29, 2012 12:24AM
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How many people get to celebrate their 2nd and 50th wedding anniversary in the same year? Well in 2 years.  Way to go "kids"!
Dec 29, 2012 12:01AM
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Most states recognize common law marriages; so why did this state not do so?
Dec 29, 2012 12:01AM
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Finding out one is not married after all, could easily feel like a true God Send to some people. :)
Dec 29, 2012 12:39AM
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Our wedding present from the U.S. government was that our combined incomes put us in a brand new and painful tax bracket.  Watch out! It's called "The marriage penalty."

Dec 29, 2012 2:20AM
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What a" RICHARD - CRANIUM" that (pastor) was, thank goodness everyone had a good sense of humor about it all. All my best to the "NEWLY WEDS".
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