US Code
CHAPTER 1— RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
§ 7. Marriage

(a)
For the purposes of any Federal law, rule, or regulation in which marital status is a
factor, an individual shall be considered married if that individual’s marriage is between 2
individuals and is valid in the State where the marriage was entered into or, in the case of
a marriage entered into outside any State, if the marriage is between 2 individuals and is
valid in the place where entered into and the marriage could have been entered into in a
State.
(b)
In this section, the term “State” means a State, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States.
(c)
For purposes of subsection (a), in determining whether a marriage is valid in a State
or the place where entered into, if outside of any State, only the law of the jurisdiction
applicable at the time the marriage was entered into may be considered.

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