20 CFR § 222.11 - Determination of marriage relationship.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t20/s222.11"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "20 CFR § 222.11 - Determination of marriage relationship."
title_number: 20
title_name: "Employees' Benefits"
section_number: "222.11"
section_name: "Determination of marriage relationship."
chapter_name: "RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "REGULATIONS UNDER THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACT"
part_number: "222"
part_name: "FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "45 U.S.C. 231f."
regulatory_source: "54 FR 42949, Oct. 19, 1989, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "222"
---


# 222.11 Determination of marriage relationship.

A claimant will be considered to be the husband, wife, or widow(er) of an employee if the law of the State in which the employee has or had a permanent home would recognize that the claimant and employee were validly married, or if a deemed marriage is established.

(a) Generally, State courts will find that a claimant and employee were validly married if—

(1) The employee and claimant were married in a civil or religious ceremony (see § 222.12) or

(2) The employee and claimant live together in a common-law marriage relationship which is recognized under applicable State law (see § 222.13), and no impediment to the marriage existed at the time it took place.

(b) A deemed marriage relationship may be established as described in § 222.14.