Interesting use of quotes. A common law marriage sits upon the legal presumption that the only legitimacy of a marriage is between two people and God. That is what you've put quotes around, making it seem suspect.
Apparently to you, a non-quoted marriage would be one that only requires the State's approval for it's legitimacy, and specifically does not require, by law, any invocation of God.
And you can quote me on that.
Actually, it doesn't have anything to do with the religious component of marriage. In fact, every state in the union allows for completely secular marriages. There is no "legal presumption that the only legitimacy of a marriage is between two people and God" in American jurisprudence.
While common law marriage is recognized in some states (and by the IRS if the couple is domiciled in a CLM state), in many others, it is not - primarily because the states don't want to get in the middle of litigation that will seperate assets without a formalized written agreement between domestic partners. It's purely a matter of practical convenience (or inconvenience) that the states want to avoid.
uh... I mean the opposite of what you said..