What is a common law marriage and could you be a little more specific about the intention part?
Common law marriage is a marriage without civil consent. Civil being governmet consent. Known here as Defacto relationships. If you are partnered living together more than six months you are classed as a Defacto couple and have a Common Law marriage and are entitled to the same rights as a civil marriage.
Which is also different to a Church marriage.
When getting married here you sign two different marriage contracts. One being civil the other church only if of course married in church or under the blessing and watch of god.
Civil marriages are legally binding marriages.
Church Marriages are not, unless held for over six months becoming Common Law marriages instead.
When this country was first founded, marriages of the Common Law type were most of all marriages. The pledging of ones heart and soul to another you were seen as married.
As one culture the jumping over a broomstick together was a rite of passage to the marriage.
Exchanging of rings etc.
As the intention part of my statement.
People get married for a number of reasons,
is a good idea at the time,
they want sex,
they want the party,
its the done thing to do,
they have to because they are forced into it,
they think they are in love,
what to look like they are not being left alone,
Nothing better to do on a saturday night.
I don't even mention the "L" word because that has little to do with marriage.