Common law marriage is a legal concept allowing people who meet certain conditions to be considered legally married - even if they were not formally married. Utah does not recognize traditional common law marriage. However, in Utah you can ask the court for judicial recognition of a relationship as a marriage. The court will look at several factors such as whether the couple held themselves out to the public in a way that people would interpret as married and if the couple shared resources as a married couple.

Recognition of a relationship as a marriage is used to grant marital status to past relationships. This may be important in property distribution or in determining child custody If a couple wants their relationship recognized as a marriage from this point forward, they should get married. Partners can file together, or on their own, for judicial recognition of a relationship as marriage. A third party, such as a family member, can also file.