410.320—Determination of relationship; widow.
An individual will be considered to be the widow of a miner if:
(a)
The courts of the State in which such miner was domiciled (see § 410.392) at the time of his death would find that the individual and the miner were validly married; or
(b)
The courts of the State in which such miner was domiciled (see § 410.392) at the time of his death would find, under the law they would apply in determining the devolution of the miner's intestate personal property, that the individual was the miner's widow; or
(c)
Under State law, such individual has the same right she would have as if she were the miner's widow to share in the miner's intestate personal property; or
(d)
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) at the time of the miner's death. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply if another person is or has been entitled to benefits as the widow of the miner and such other person is, or is considered to be, the widow of such miner under paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this section at the time such individual files her claim for benefits.