If the NMLR, by itself, does not meet the duration requirement or any of the exceptions
to the duration requirement, but the claimant and the NH entered into more than one
NMLR or also entered into a marriage, an opinion may be needed.
A combination of NMLRs, or combination of NMLRs and marriages with the NH, may in
total, meet the duration of marriage requirement without obtaining a legal opinion
if (1) the relationships all occurred in the same state and (2) the relationships
were consecutive without any gap in time between the relationships.
If no applicable precedent opinion exists in PR 05800.000 and the claimant alleges any of the following, request a legal opinion about duration
using instructions in GN 01010.815:
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•
The claimant and NH’s relationship began as an NMLR and later converted to a marriage.
The legal opinion should address the duration of the NMLR, the date of the marriage,
and the duration of the marriage;
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•
The claimant had more than one NMLR with the NH which may, in total, meet the duration
of marriage requirement, and the relationships were not all in the same state; or
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•
The claimant and the NH had a combination of NMLR and marriage, which may, in total,
meet the duration of marriage requirement.