1.
common-law marriage; de facto marriage
A partnership where a couple lives together as if married but has not submitted a marriage registration (婚姻届). In Japan, this means the couple functions as spouses in daily life but is not legally recognized as married under the family register system.
二人は事実婚の関係にある。
The two are in a common-law marriage.
事実婚でも扶養手当が認められる場合がある。
There are cases where dependent allowances are recognized even in common-law marriages.
姓を変えたくないという理由で事実婚を選ぶカップルが増えている。
The number of couples choosing common-law marriage because they don't want to change their surnames is increasing.
USAGE:
事実婚 is a topic of growing relevance in Japan, where married couples are legally required to share the same surname (夫婦同姓). Some couples choose 事実婚 to avoid this requirement.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 事実婚のパートナー (common-law partner)
- 事実婚を選ぶ (to choose common-law marriage)
- 事実婚の権利 (rights of common-law spouses)
SIMILAR WORDS:
内縁 is a legal term for de facto marriage, often used in legal and administrative contexts. 事実婚 is more commonly used in general discussion.