Common Law Marriage

If a man and a woman intend to be married, they may be married even if they never said “I do.” The test in Alabama is the intent of the parties. No ceremony and no particular words are necessary to constitute a valid common-law marriage. Specifically, the elements required for a common law marriage are (a) capacity (both spouses must be at least 14 and mentally competent); (b) present agreement or mutual consent to enter into the marriage relationship; (c) public recognition of the existence of the marriage (calling each other "my husband" and "my wife"); and (d) cohabitation or mutual assumption openly of marital duties and obligations."[2]

   The Alabama attorney general defines a common law marriage this way: To constitute a valid common-law marriage, there must be mutual consent between the parties to be husband and wife, followed by cohabitation and living together as man and wife.  Alabama doesn’t recognize trial marriages. As the court in one case put it, “marriage, common-law or ceremonial, is not transitory, ephemeral, or conditional, but contemplates a present, permanent status.

   Maybe this describes this man and the deceased's relationship.  Did they consider themselves married after twenty years?   Many couples do consider their relationship as a marriage after that many years.   In any case, this relationship should be brought up in court, and if this pair did consider themselves married, the man should say that he was married, in common law, to the deceased woman and that the house therefore belongs to him.  

   If he can afford any kind of a lawyer, it would be very useful for him.  I'm assuming you are not a lawyer.