[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 20, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 20CFR222.11]

[Page 413]
 
                      TITLE 20--EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS
 
                  CHAPTER II--RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
 
PART 222_FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS--Table of Contents
 
          Subpart B_Relationship as Wife, Husband, or Widow(er)
 
Sec. 222.11  Determination of marriage relationship.

    A claimant will be considered to be the husband, wife, or widow(er) 
of an employee if the law of the State in which the employee has or had 
a permanent home would recognize that the claimant and employee were 
validly married, or if a deemed marriage is established.
    (a) Generally, State courts will find that a claimant and employee 
were validly married if--
    (1) The employee and claimant were married in a civil or religious 
ceremony (see Sec. 222.12) or
    (2) The employee and claimant live together in a common-law marriage 
relationship which is recognized under applicable State law (see Sec. 
222.13), and no impediment to the marriage existed at the time it took 
place.
    (b) A deemed marriage relationship may be established as described 
in Sec. 222.14.