410.310—Determination of relationship; wife.
An individual will be considered to be the wife of a miner if:
(a)
The courts of the State in which such miner is domiciled (see § 410.392) would find that such individual and the miner were validly married; or
(b)
The courts of the State in which such miner is domiciled (see § 410.392) would find, under the law they would apply in determining the devolution of the miner's intestate personal property, that the individual is the miner's wife; or
(c)
Under State law, such individual has the same right she would have if she were the wife to share in the miner's intestate personal property; or
(d)
(1)
Such individual went through a marriage ceremony with the miner resulting in a purported marriage between them and which, but for a legal impediment (see § 410.391 ), would have been a valid marriage. However, such purported marriage shall not be considered a valid marriage if such individual entered into the purported marriage with knowledge that it was not a valid marriage, or if such individual and the miner were not living in the same household (see § 410.393) in the month in which there is filed a request that the miner's benefits be augmented because such individual qualifies as his wife (see § 410.510(c) ). The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply, however, if the miner's benefits are or have been augmented under § 410.510(c) because another person qualifies or has qualified as his wife and such other person is, or is considered to be, the wife of such miner under paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this section at the time such request is filed.
(2)
The qualification for augmentation purposes of an individual who would not be considered to be the wife of such miner but for this paragraph (d), shall end with the month before the month in which (i) the Administration determines that the benefits of the miner should be augmented on account of another person, if such other person is (or is considered to be) the wife of such miner under paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this section, or (ii) if the individual who previously qualified as a wife for purposes of § 410.510(c), entered into a marriage valid without regard to this paragraph, with a person other than such miner.