When it comes to common law marriage in the Sunshine State, the prevailing myth is that after seven years one is “common law” married in Florida. The truth, however, is that although common law marriages do exist in Florida, one simply does not “become” a common law spouse after a certain period of time. As the article Understanding the 7-Year Common Law Marriage in FL: Separating Truth from Myths on Chalkie & The Chippy explains, “The short answer is no, there is actually no ‘common law marriage’ in Florida, considering how marriages are defined in state law.”
While this may seem straightforward, the point is to clarify an issue that many readers and web administrators struggle to clarify what, exactly, they have. Just as you won’t become a common law wife after seven years with your partner, you also won’t develop a fully functional and compliant website by claiming you’ve “read enough” about website law during the course of your career as a web administrator.
Similarly, just because something is true to the naked eye doesn’t mean that it’s fact. Indeed, “the naked eye” is somewhat analogous to user experience, and just as the user experience isn’t always clear, neither is a common law marriage after a certain number of years has passed.
Indeed, if the length of a relationship established the legality of a marriage, many would be able to benefit from common law-type arrangements, and vice versa. Just as web administrators often find themselves performing multiple roles, many couples in committed relationships still seek forms of non-legalized arrangement. In contrast, the turntables could flip and people could be married for years, then wake up one morning and decide they’re not compatible for long-term legal commitments, regardless of date.
There are many assumptions made in web design and law that aren’t necessarily fact-based, but frequently accepted. Typically, there is a preface assumption that one has done their research, particularly in legal work. Although this is sometimes untrue of web design, preface assumptions often also exist there, too.
While it is important to understand design and law in close terms, in-depth exploration of either should never be substituted by quick explanations. Indeed, just as cursory assumptions regarding compliance are never a good idea for design, neither is it a good idea to assume that a 7 year common law marriage florida period alone legitimizes a marriage.
Reading the law is part of the job when it comes to web compliance, and so is reading a bit of legal literature. The truth is that “The 7-year marriage” myth is so widespread because it fits into many people’s ways of learning the law – in quick snippets, and without positive reinforcement or encouragement to dive deeper. When it comes to unclear legal issues, in-depth analysis and exploration of the law is necessary.
In design, many are quick to gloss over admittedly complicated rules, regulations and compliance requirements. The problem is that in design, this is a big mistake. Taking the shortcut might save you a little time, but in reality, it will put you behind on meeting the necessary requirements.
Now, web design companies might even take the approach that an outdated web experience is “an industry standard” of sorts, just as the 7-year law is a presumed standard. The truth is that the 7-year law is something that’s caught on because it’s easy to remember, and it offers an illusion of simplicity. And much like an outdated website, the 7-year marriage is something that’s become so commonplace as to almost seem like the truth.
And for that reason, many people find that the 7-Year Marriage is a global issue, too. In the age of information sharing, misconceptions can be had, and the 7-year marriage is often shared by word-of-mouth information.
Now, “shared information” can transpire between two people immediately, or from one person to another. The problem is that when it comes to digital media, things can be re-shared to virtually millions of users within a matter of seconds. And the 7 year law, in this case, is a good example.
The fact of the matter is that misconceptions can be had in most any part of one’s life – and law is no different. The point is not to abide by proven myths, but rather to explore the truth and make an informed decision for yourself, whether this applies to the world of design or the world of law.
The 7 year law is one of many legal myths, many of which can be compared to the world of design. The fact of the matter is that your browser, just like your feet, does not do what it needs to do when it’s stuck in an outdated website. But myopic vision will help neither the lawyer nor the web designer, and so your best tool is simply research.
For more information on common law marriage, you can visit the Wikipedia page on common law marriage.