[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 20, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 20CFR222.12]

[Page 434]
 
                      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.  222.12  Ceremonial marriage relationship.

    A valid ceremonial marriage is one which would be recognized as 
valid by the courts of the State in which the marriage ceremony took 
place. Generally, State law provides various procedures which must be 
followed, such as designation of who may perform the marriage ceremony, 
what licenses or witnesses are required, and similar rules. A ceremonial 
marriage may be a civil or religious ceremony, or a ceremony which 
follows tribal customs, Chinese customs, or similar traditional 
procedures.