For clarification of any possible doubt about the meaning of "common law marriage", this would be helpful:

ttps://www.findlaw.com/family/marriage/common-law-marriage.html
What is Common Law Marriage?
In the United States, common law marriage has been in existence since the horse and buggy days of 1877. While it might sound like an archaic form of marriage, it's still technically around today in one form or another in 10 states and the District of Columbia. Additionally, five states recognize common law marriage with some restrictions.
This article discusses the meaning of common law marriage, which states recognize them, how you enter into one, and what factors courts use to determine whether one exists.
What is Common Law Marriage: A Definition
A common law marriage is one in which the couple lives together for a period of time and holds themselves out to friends, family and the community as "being married," but without ever going through a formal ceremony or getting a marriage license. Below are three of the common requirements for most states (note that just "living together" isn't enough to validate a common law marriage).
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States that Recognize Common Law Marriage
The following list of states fully recognize common law marriage:
Colorado
District of Columbia
Iowa
Kansas
Montana
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Texas (calls it "informal marriage")
Utah

In Iowa to prove the existence of a lawful common law marriage, there must be substantial evidence of a present intent and agreement to be married, continuous cohabitation, and a public declaration that the parties are husband and wife (or, now, wife and wife, or husband and husband or “Party A” and “Party B”). Here, a male/female couple met in 1993 and cohabitated continuously until the time of the man’s death in 2006. At the time the couple met, the man was married to a woman who was suffering from a brain tumor and was confined to a nursing home, unable to recognize him. She died in 2001. After her death, the man proposed to his girlfriend and she wore his ring, although there was never any formal marriage ceremony. The couple bought a home together, purchasing the property as single persons but owning it in joint tenancy with rights of survivorship. The couple also took out four mortgages on the home, as single persons.
https://www.calt.iastate.edu/article/common-law-marriage-iow...