CFR > Title 20 - Employees' Benefits > CHAPTER II—RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD > SUBCHAPTER B—REGULATIONS UNDER THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACT (parts 201 to 295) > PART 222—FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS > SUBPART B—Relationship as Wife, Husband, or Widow(er) (§222.10 to §222.18) > 222.11—Determination of marriage relationship.

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 § 222.12) or
(2) The employee and claimant live together in a common-law marriage relationship which is recognized under applicable State law (see § 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 § 222.14.