DEAR ABBY: I am 68 years old and have been a fan of yours for many years. In a recent column, you mentioned that in some states, living together for a specific number of years constitutes common-law marriage. Would you be kind enough to publish a list of those states? -- J.D. IN TUCSON
DEAR J.D.: They are Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and the District of Columbia. However, the legal requirements for a valid common-law marriage vary from state to state. In some of them, more than cohabitation is required. Therefore, any couple considering common-law marriage should consult an attorney before assuming that their union is legal.