Do Tom Sandoval & Ariana Madix Have A Common-Law Marriage?

Do Vanderpump Rules co-stars and now exes Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix have a common-law marriage? After being together for nearly a decade and owning a home together, what is their actual status? Is this like a divorce or just a breakup? Read on for more details.

Do Tom Sandoval & Ariana Madix Have A Common-Law Marriage?

When Tom Sandoval was caught cheating on Ariana Madix with her best friend, Raquel Leviss, it was earth-shattering. Ariana was heartbroken and what was worse was that he was cheating in the home they shared. Madix and Sandoval purchased their Valley Village house in 2019. When the cheating scandal broke in March 2023, Tom and Ariana opted to stay in their home together. They both own half of it and it just seemed like the best option. Furthermore, Sandoval did not appear to want to leave the home despite his wrongdoing. It was explained that they had to get mediators to help them come and go somewhat comfortably though Ariana has said she is ready to sell it and leave.

Yet, one thing fans want to know is if they have a common-law marriage. Some have just assumed this was how their relationship was after all of these years. “Being common law, is Ariana entitled to a cut of Tom’s sh*tty bar?” one tweeted. Another added: “I’d have a better time feeling bad for Raquel if it wasn’t just revealed that she had an affair with her best friend’s common law husband.” Yet, this may not be entirely accurate. Do they have a common-law marriage? The short answer is “no.”

Pretty crazy that between season 9 and now, FOUR relationships ended. 2 engagements, one marriage, and one common law marriage. They were all 5+ years long too like damn #PumpRules

— Bingeing Bravo (@BingeingBravo) May 17, 2023

According to California State Law, it is not a state that actually recognizes this practice. “California is not a state that recognizes common-law marriages. This means that, no matter how many years you spend living with a partner, you will not have the rights and privileges of a married couple unless you go through the process of becoming legally married in California,” per Lemkin Law. So, technically, they are just a broken-up couple who need to personally divide assets.

Thoughts On Marriage

From the time Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix got together in Season 3, she has been opposed to marriage. Additionally, she never wanted to have children, either. Jax Taylor could not understand how they could buy a home together and that was okay for Ariana but a legal commitment was not. It seems like Ariana is ready to leave so they will either have to sell or Tom will have to buy Ariana out of her portion of the home. How soon that will happen is yet to be seen.

Are you shocked that they do not have a common-law marriage or did you think they were just a long-term couple? Let us know in the comments and watch Vanderpump Rules Wednesdays on Bravo.