Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Spouse: A person who is married to another person. If you are married, your spouse is your husband or wife. If one spouse makes a mistake on their taxes, the other spouse may be considered an innocent spouse and not be held responsible. If someone believes they are legally married but later find out they are not, they are called a putative spouse. If one spouse dies, the other spouse is called the surviving spouse.
Definition: A spouse is a person's husband or wife through legal marriage.
Examples:
These examples illustrate the definition of a spouse as someone who is legally married to another person. The innocent spouse example shows how a spouse can be relieved of tax liability if they were not aware of their partner's actions. The putative spouse example shows how someone can still be considered a spouse even if their marriage is later found to be invalid. The surviving spouse example shows how a spouse can be referred to after their partner has passed away.