If you're wanting to say "I do" without officially saying "I do" you'd better do it soon: starting in 2017, there will be no more common law marriages in Alabama.

Rep. Mike Jones, R- Andalusia, introduced a bill in the last legislative session that will effectively abolish the practice of common law marriage in the state. The bill, signed by Gov. Robert Bentley on May 3, prohibits anyone from entering into a common-law marriage after Jan. 1, 2017. Common-law marriage entered into before Jan. 1, 2017 will still be valid.

"Alabama is one of the last states to recognize common law marriage, as it had been abolished in most other states," said Attorney Anna L. Hart with the firm Beckum Kittle LLP. "The new law represents a sweeping change for the State of Alabama."

Common-law marriage is different from a tradition marriage in that it does not require a couple to have a ceremony conducted by a public or religious official and couples are not required to have a marriage license, Hart explained. In the past, Alabama law had only required two people have an agreement to enter into a marriage relationship and then present themselves as married to the public. Proof of marriage could include jointly filing tax returns, having a joint bank account or just referring to themselves as "husband" and "wife."

Legal problems with common-law marriages can occur when one person in the relationship denies it occurs and then courts have to use a range of criteria to determine if the union was valid.

Alabama's change leaves Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas and Utah as the only states with some form of common-law marriage on their books.