de facto marriage; common-law marriage
Refers to a couple living together in a marriage-like relationship without legal registration. Often contrasted with 法律婚 (legal marriage).
See also: 内縁
Couples in a de facto marriage may have less legal protection compared to those in a legal marriage.
They chose a common-law marriage and did not submit a marriage registration.
法律婚 is a legally registered marriage, the opposite of 事実婚.
Compound of 事実 (jijitsu, 'fact') and 婚 (kon, 'marriage'), literally 'factual marriage'.