North Carolina
Common Law Marriage in North Carolina: Is It Recognized? (2026)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 18, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 18, 2026. · 2 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
North Carolina has never recognized common law marriage. requires every valid marriage in North Carolina to be solemnized by an authorized officiant, and that requirement has applied since the state's earliest marriage statutes. No couple can form a common law marriage in North Carolina. However, North Carolina does recognize a common law marriage that was validly formed in another state that permits it.
Information last verified on June 2, 2026.
Jurisdiction scope: This article addresses North Carolina law on common law marriage under and related case law. It does not constitute legal advice. For a 50-state comparison, see Common Law Marriage by State.
Does North Carolina Recognize Common Law Marriage?
North Carolina does not permit couples to form a common law marriage within the state. N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 51-1 provides that a valid marriage in North Carolina requires solemnization by a magistrate, a minister, or another person authorized by law to perform marriages. The statute makes no provision for an informal marriage formed through cohabitation and mutual agreement alone.
Unlike states that recognized common law marriage at some earlier point and then abolished it by statute, North Carolina never recognized common law marriage formation in the first place. No legislative act was needed to end it because it was never adopted as a matter of North Carolina law. The solemnization requirement traces to colonial-era marriage laws and has carried forward through every revision of the North Carolina statutes.
The practical consequence is that no period of cohabitation, no shared finances, and no public representation as a married couple creates a marriage in North Carolina. Two people who wish to be legally married in North Carolina must obtain a marriage license from a register of deeds and go through a recognized ceremony.
Why North Carolina Never Adopted Common Law Marriage
Common law marriage as a legal doctrine emerged in English common law and was carried into many American states through their reception of English common law. North Carolina, like several other states, enacted marriage formality requirements early in its history that foreclosed the common law marriage doctrine before it became established practice.
N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 51-1 sets out the solemnization requirement with specificity: the ceremony must be performed by a magistrate or a minister of any religious denomination who is authorized to perform marriages, or by any other person authorized by law. The statute also requires that the ceremony occur in the presence of at least two witnesses. North Carolina courts have consistently held that these requirements are exclusive. A marriage formed without solemnization in North Carolina is void, not merely voidable.
The North Carolina Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals have affirmed in multiple proceedings that the state's marriage statutes do not provide for common law marriage formation. In State v. Lynch, 301 N.C. 479, 272 S.E.2d 349 (1980), the North Carolina Supreme Court confirmed that North Carolina does not recognize common law marriage and that a valid marriage requires solemnization by a properly authorized officiant, holding that cohabitation and mutual recognition as spouses does not substitute for the statutory requirements.
Does North Carolina Recognize a Common Law Marriage From Another State?
Yes. North Carolina recognizes a valid common law marriage formed in another state, provided the couple met that state's formation requirements at the time the marriage was created. This recognition rests on the principle of comity, the longstanding rule under which states honor marriages validly contracted in another jurisdiction even if those marriages could not be formed locally.
North Carolina courts have applied this rule in estate proceedings, workers' compensation cases, and family law matters. The party claiming the out-of-state common law marriage bears the burden of proving that the marriage was validly formed under the law of the state where it arose. North Carolina courts apply the law of the state of formation to determine whether the marriage was valid, then apply North Carolina law to the rights and obligations that flow from recognition.
States where new common law marriages can currently be formed as of 2026 include Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Rhode Island, Texas (calling it an informal marriage under Tex. Fam. Code Section 2.401), and the District of Columbia. A couple that established a valid common law marriage in any of those jurisdictions and later moved to North Carolina carries a recognized legal marriage into the state.
Recognition of a valid out-of-state common law marriage in North Carolina produces substantive legal consequences. The couple is treated as a married couple for purposes of equitable distribution of marital property under upon divorce, spousal intestate succession rights under , the elective share under , and workers' compensation survivor benefits.
What Common Law Marriage Requires in States That Allow It
Because North Carolina residents may encounter situations involving an out-of-state common law marriage, whether inherited through family history, a prior relationship in another state, or a partner who relocated from a state that allows such marriages, it is useful to understand what those states generally require.
The core requirements that courts in common law marriage states apply are broadly consistent:
Legal capacity. Both parties must have had the legal capacity to marry at the time of the alleged marriage. Neither could have been already married to someone else, and both must have been of legal age.
Mutual present agreement. The parties must have mutually agreed at a specific point in time to be married to each other presently. An agreement to live together, or an agreement to get married someday in the future, does not satisfy this requirement. The present-tense agreement is the central element that courts scrutinize most carefully.
Cohabitation. The parties must have lived together as a couple. No state specifies a minimum number of years.
Holding out. The parties must have publicly represented themselves as a married couple, for example by using the same last name, introducing each other as husband and wife, filing joint tax returns, or listing the other as a spouse on insurance or financial documents.
The widely circulated belief that seven years of living together creates a marriage has no basis in the law of any state, including the states that still recognize common law marriage. Duration of cohabitation is one factual data point among many, not a threshold trigger.
How to Prove an Out-of-State Common Law Marriage in North Carolina
When someone in North Carolina asserts rights based on a common law marriage formed in another state, such as in a divorce proceeding, an estate dispute, or a workers' compensation claim, that person must prove the marriage was validly formed under the law of the state where it originated. North Carolina courts will apply that other state's formation requirements to the evidence.
Evidence commonly considered in such proceedings includes:
- Joint federal and state income tax returns filed with the couple listed as married
- Joint bank accounts, investment accounts, or credit accounts held in both names
- Deeds, leases, or loan documents identifying both parties as spouses
- Health insurance or life insurance policies naming the other person as a spouse
- Affidavits from family members, friends, coworkers, or clergy who knew the couple as husband and wife
- Correspondence, social media posts, or public statements in which the parties referred to each other as husband and wife
- A recorded declaration of informal marriage filed with a Texas county clerk under Tex. Fam. Code Section 2.401, if the marriage was formed in Texas
The burden of proof is on the party asserting the common law marriage, and courts apply at minimum a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard. In estate and inheritance proceedings, some courts apply a heightened standard given the stakes involved. Consulting a North Carolina family law attorney before asserting or contesting a common law marriage claim is advisable.
How a Recognized Common Law Marriage Ends in North Carolina
A common law marriage formed in another state and recognized in North Carolina has the same legal force as a marriage solemnized in North Carolina. That marriage ends only through formal divorce or the death of a spouse. Separation, ceasing to cohabit, or a mutual decision to end the relationship does not dissolve the marriage.
If a couple with a recognized out-of-state common law marriage wishes to end their relationship in North Carolina, they must file for absolute divorce in a North Carolina district court under N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 50, just as any formally married couple would. North Carolina requires that one spouse have been a resident of the state for at least six months before filing and that the parties have lived separate and apart for at least one year before the divorce can be granted.
The seven-year myth: No state has ever required seven years of cohabitation to form a common law marriage, and no state dissolves a marriage automatically through any period of separation without a court order. In North Carolina, a recognized common law marriage does not terminate through separation or passage of time. Formal divorce is the only path to dissolution during the lives of both spouses.
Unmarried Cohabitation in North Carolina
Because North Carolina does not recognize common law marriage and has no domestic partnership registry, couples who live together without a formal marriage have no automatic legal rights against each other's property, no right to spousal support, and no spousal inheritance rights under the intestacy statutes.
North Carolina's criminal cohabitation statute, G.S. 14-184, was found unconstitutional as applied in Hobbs v. Smith, an unpublished 2006 Pender County Superior Court ruling reported by the ACLU of North Carolina, which relied on the United States Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas. Because that ruling came from a trial court rather than an appellate court, G.S. 14-184 technically remains in the North Carolina General Statutes, though it is not enforced. Either way, the absence of criminal liability does not produce marital rights. Cohabiting partners who wish to protect themselves can enter into a written cohabitation agreement addressing property ownership and financial obligations, hold property in joint tenancy with right of survivorship, and designate each other as beneficiaries on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial instruments.
Without these voluntary legal steps, a long-term partner who is not legally married has limited recourse upon the relationship's end or the other partner's death.
Legal disclaimer: This page provides general legal information about North Carolina common law marriage law. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Common law marriage and family law matters are fact-specific and can affect significant rights, including property, inheritance, and support. Consult a licensed North Carolina family law attorney for advice on your particular situation. Information verified as of June 2, 2026.
Related North Carolina Laws
Last updated: June 2, 2026.
More North Carolina Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Does North Carolina recognize common law marriage?
North Carolina has never allowed the formation of common law marriages. N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 51-1 requires every valid marriage to be solemnized by an authorized officiant. There is no cutoff date because North Carolina never recognized common law marriage formation in the first place. North Carolina does recognize a valid common law marriage that was formed in another state, provided the couple met that state's requirements.
Has North Carolina ever recognized common law marriage?
No. North Carolina has never permitted common law marriage formation at any point in its history. Unlike states such as Ohio or Pennsylvania that abolished common law marriage at a specific cutoff date, North Carolina never adopted the doctrine. The solemnization requirement in N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 51-1 has been part of North Carolina marriage law since the state's earliest statutes.
Is a common law marriage from another state valid in North Carolina?
Yes. North Carolina recognizes a valid common law marriage formed in another state, provided the couple met that state's formation requirements at the time. North Carolina courts apply this rule in estate, divorce, and workers' compensation proceedings. The party claiming the marriage bears the burden of proving it was validly formed under the originating state's law.
How long do you have to live together to be common law married in North Carolina?
Cohabitation of any length does not create a marriage in North Carolina. North Carolina has never permitted common law marriage formation. In states that do allow common law marriage, no minimum number of years of cohabitation is required by any state. The belief that seven years of living together creates a marriage is a myth with no basis in any state's law.
How do you prove a common law marriage from another state in North Carolina?
The party asserting the marriage must prove it was validly formed under the law of the state where it was created. Evidence includes joint tax returns filed as married, joint bank or property accounts, insurance records listing the other person as a spouse, affidavits from witnesses who knew the couple as married, and any formal declaration filed in a state like Texas. North Carolina courts apply the originating state's formation requirements to the evidence.
How does a recognized common law marriage end in North Carolina?
A common law marriage that North Carolina recognizes ends only through formal divorce or the death of a spouse. There is no common law divorce. The couple must file for absolute divorce in a North Carolina district court under N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 50. North Carolina requires at least one year of separation and at least six months of residency in the state before an absolute divorce can be granted.
Do unmarried couples in North Carolina have any property rights?
Unmarried cohabiting partners in North Carolina do not have automatic marital property rights, spousal support rights, or intestate inheritance rights. Partners can protect themselves through written cohabitation agreements, joint property ownership with right of survivorship, and beneficiary designations on financial accounts and insurance. Without those voluntary steps, a long-term partner has limited legal recourse upon separation or the other partner's death.
Updates
Removed a fabricated case citation (Coltrane v. Coltrane, which does not exist at the cited reporter page) and replaced it with a verified case, State v. Lynch, that actually holds North Carolina does not recognize common-law marriage. Also corrected the case name, date, and legal effect of the 2006 court ruling on North Carolina's cohabitation statute: the case is Hobbs v. Smith, an unpublished trial-court ruling, not a published 'State v. Hobbs' decision, and the statute (G.S. 14-184) remains on the books unenforced rather than formally abolished.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 14: Criminal Law.
§ 14-184Fornication and adulteryIn force
If any man and woman, not being married to each other, shall lewdly and lasciviously associate, bed and cohabit together, they shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor: Provided, that the admissions or confessions of one shall not be received in evidence against the other. (1805, c. 684, P.R.; R.C., c. 34, s. 45; Code, s. 1041; Rev., s. 3350; C.S., s. 4343; 1969, c. 1224, s. 9; 1993, c. 539, s. 119; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov
Cited in 19 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2022
Leading cases:
- State v. Holden (Supreme Court of North Carolina 1994, 338 N.C. 394)“…en individuals who are not married to each other. See N.C.G.S. § 14-184 (1993) (“If any man and woman, not bein…”
- State v. Davis (Supreme Court of North Carolina 1948, 229 N.C. 386)“…f one shall not be received in evidence against the other.” G.S. 14-184. However, we think this statutory prohi…”
- Nicholson v. Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital, Inc. (Supreme Court of North Carolina 1980, 300 N.C. 295)“…Reversed and remanded. 1 . Because G.S. 14-184 makes fornication and adultery a misdem…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 29: Intestate Succession.
§ 29-14Share of surviving spouseIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
(a) Real Property. - The share of the surviving spouse in the real property is: (1) If the intestate is survived by only one child or by any lineal descendant of only one deceased child, a one-half undivided interest in the real property; (2) If the intestate is survived by two or more children, or by one child and any lineal descendant of one or more deceased children or by lineal descendants of two or more deceased children, a one-third undivided interest in the real property; (3) If the intestate is not survived by a child, children or any lineal descendant of a deceased child or children, but is survived by one or more parents, a one-half undivided interest in the real property; (4) If the intestate is not survived by a child, children or any lineal descendant of a deceased child or children, or by a parent, all the real property.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov
Cited in 38 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2024
Leading cases:
- Smith v. Smith (Supreme Court of North Carolina 1965, 265 N.C. 18)“…sly made an election to take under the *303 provisions of G.S. § 29-14 one-half of the real estate in fee, and…”
- Newlin v. Gill, State Treasurer (Supreme Court of North Carolina 1977, 293 N.C. 348)“…281 . The rights of relatives to inherit are set forth in G.S. 29-14, G.S. 29-15, G.S. 29-21, and G.S. 29-22…”
- In Re the Estate of Connor (Court of Appeals of North Carolina 1969, 5 N.C. App. 228)“…neither lineal descendant nor parent survive. Under G.S. 29-14(3) when an intestate has no lineal desc…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: North Carolina Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 30: Surviving Spouses.
§ 30-3.1Right of elective shareIn force
(a) Elective Share. - The surviving spouse of a decedent who dies domiciled in this State has a right to claim an "elective share", which means an amount equal to (i) the applicable share of the Total Net Assets, as defined in G.S. 30-3.2(4), less (ii) the value of Net Property Passing to Surviving Spouse, as defined in G.S. 30-3.2(2c). The applicable share of the Total Net Assets is as follows: (1) If the surviving spouse was married to the decedent for less than five years, fifteen percent (15%) of the Total Net Assets. (2) If the surviving spouse was married to the decedent for at least five years but less than 10 years, twenty-five percent (25%) of the Total Net Assets. (3) If the surviving spouse was married to the decedent for at least 10 years but less than 15 years, thirty-three percent (33%) of the Total Net Assets. (4) If the surviving spouse was married to the decedent for 15 years or more, fifty percent (50%) of the Total Net Assets. (b) Repealed by Session Laws 2013-91, s. 1(d), effective October 1, 2013, and applicable to estates of decedents dying on or after October 1, 2013. (c) Repealed by Session Laws 2009-368, s.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov
Cited in 15 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2024
Leading cases:
- In Re Estate of Pope (Court of Appeals of North Carolina 2008, 192 N.C. App. 321)“…judgment and denying her claim for an elective share under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 30-3.1 et seq. (2007) (the “Elec…”
- In re: Gerringer (Court of Appeals of North Carolina 2022)“…ve share of 50% of Decedent’s net estate, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 30-3.1. ¶4 A preliminary hearing on t…”
- In re: Cracker (Court of Appeals of North Carolina 2020)“…d a claim for an elective share of Decedent’s estate under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 30-3.1(a). The executor objected to this clai…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 50: Divorce and Alimony.
§ 50-20Distribution by court of marital and divisible propertyIn force
(a) Upon application of a party, the court shall determine what is the marital property and divisible property and shall provide for an equitable distribution of the marital property and divisible property between the parties in accordance with this section. (b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) Distributive award. - Payments that are payable either in a lump sum or over a period of time in fixed amounts, but the term does not include alimony payments or similar payments for support or maintenance of a spouse or child. (1a) Divisible property. - All real and personal property as set forth below: a. All appreciation and diminution in value of marital property and divisible property of the parties occurring after the date of separation and prior to the date of distribution, except that appreciation or diminution in value that is the result of postseparation actions or activities of a spouse is not treated as divisible property. b.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov
Cited in 440 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2026
Leading cases:
- White v. White (Supreme Court of North Carolina 1985, 312 N.C. 770)“…or equitable distribution of the marital property under N.C.G.S. 50-20. A hearing was held at the April 6, 198…”
- Wade v. Wade (Court of Appeals of North Carolina 1985, 72 N.C. App. 372)“…r market value as used by the court here. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-20 (c) (Cum. Supp. 1983); Alexander…”
- Davis v. Davis (Supreme Court of North Carolina 2006, 360 N.C. 518)“…rebutted by the greater weight of the evidence. N.C.G.S. § 50-20(b)(1) (2005). As the Court of Appeals s…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 51: Marriage.
§ 51-1Requisites of marriage; solemnizationIn force
A valid and sufficient marriage is created by the consent of a male and female person who may lawfully marry, presently to take each other as husband and wife, freely, seriously and plainly expressed by each in the presence of the other, either: (1) a. In the presence of an ordained minister of any religious denomination, a minister authorized by a church, or a magistrate; and b. With the consequent declaration by the minister or magistrate that the persons are husband and wife; or (2) In accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious denomination, or federally or State recognized Indian Nation or Tribe. Marriages solemnized before March 9, 1909, by ministers of the gospel licensed, but not ordained, are validated from their consummation. (1871-2, c. 193, s. 3; Code, s. 1812; Rev., s. 2081; 1908, c. 47; 1909, c. 704, s. 2; c. 897; C.S., s. 2493; 1945, c. 839; 1965, c. 152; 1971, c. 1185, s. 26; 1977, c. 592, s. 1; 2000-58, ss. 1, 2; 2001-14, ss. 1, 2; 2001-62, ss. 1, 17; 2002-115, ss. 5, 6; 2002-159, s. 13(a); 2003-4, s. 1; 2005-56, s. 1; 2007-61, s. 1; 2009-13, s. 1; 2012-194, s. 65.4(a).)
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov
Cited in 17 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2016
Leading cases:
- State v. Lynch (Supreme Court of North Carolina 1980, 301 N.C. 479)“…stitute a valid marriage in this State, the requirements of G.S. 51-1 must be met. That statute provides:…”
- Pickard v. Pickard (Court of Appeals of North Carolina 2006, 176 N.C. App. 193)“…eview denied, 310 N.C. 744 , 315 S.E.2d 702 (1984). N.C. Gen.Stat. § 51-1 (1977) was the statute in effect that g…”
- In Re Estate of Peacock (Court of Appeals of North Carolina 2016, 248 N.C. App. 18)“…the persons are husband and wife[.] N.C. Gen. Stat. § 51-1 (2015). In the present case, it is undi…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Texas Family Code
§ 2.401PROOF OF INFORMAL MARRIAGEIn forcecited in 22 of our articles
(a) In a judicial, administrative, or other proceeding, the marriage of a man and woman may be proved by evidence that: (1) a declaration of their marriage has been signed as provided by this subchapter; or (2) the man and woman agreed to be married and after the agreement they lived together in this state as husband and wife and there represented to others that they were married. (b) If a proceeding in which a marriage is to be proved as provided by Subsection (a)(2) is not commenced before the second anniversary of the date on which the parties separated and ceased living together, it is rebuttably presumed that the parties did not enter into an agreement to be married. (c) A person under 18 years of age may not: (1) be a party to an informal marriage; or (2) execute a declaration of informal marriage under Section 2.402. (d) A person may not be a party to an informal marriage or execute a declaration of an informal marriage if the person is presently married to a person who is not the other party to the informal marriage or declaration of an informal marriage, as applicable.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-28 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at statutes.capitol.texas.gov
Cited in 98 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Joplin v. Borusheski (2008) applied section 2.401(b): a suit filed over two years after separation raises a rebuttable presumption the parties never agreed to marry, which that proponent did not rebut. In Lan Ngoc Nguyen v. Dinh Duc Nguyen (2011) the 2.401(d) prior-marriage impediment was not proved, and that finding was reversed.
Leading cases:
- Lan Ngoc Nguyen v. Dinh Duc Nguyen (Texas Court of Appeals, 1st District (Houston) 2011, 355 S.W.3d 82)✓A husband fought his wife's divorce petition by claiming an earlier Vietnamese marriage was an impediment under Section 2.401(d); the court found the proof of that prior marriage factually insufficient and remanded to decide the statute's three informal-marriage elements.
- Assoun v. Gustafson (Court of Appeals of Texas 2016, 493 S.W.3d 156)✓An ex-husband sued to have his former wife declared informally married to her boyfriend, ending his alimony; applying Section 2.401(a), the court affirmed summary judgment for the couple because their sworn denials of any agreement to marry defeated his circumstantial proof.
- Joplin v. Borusheski (Texas Court of Appeals, 5th District (Dallas) 2008, 244 S.W.3d 607)✓A man filed for divorce in 2005 claiming a common-law marriage, more than two years after the couple stopped living together; the court applied Section 2.401(b)'s rebuttable presumption of no agreement to marry and held his testimony failed to rebut it.
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Common Law Marriage by State: Where It's Recognized (2026), Common Law Marriage in Arizona: Is It Recognized? (2026), Common Law Marriage in Arkansas: Is It Recognized? (2026)
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Sources and References
- N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 51-1 - Requisites of valid marriage(ncleg.net)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 50-20 - Equitable distribution(ncleg.net)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 29-14 - Share of surviving spouse(ncleg.net)
- Common Law Marriage(law.cornell.edu)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 30-3.1: Elective share. North Carolina General Assembly(ncleg.net)
- Tex. Fam. Code Section 2.401: Informal Marriage. Texas Legislature(statutes.capitol.texas.gov).gov
- State v. Lynch, 301 N.C. 479, 272 S.E.2d 349 (N.C. 1980), CourtListener(courtlistener.com)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 14-184 - Cohabitation of persons of opposite sex, North Carolina General Assembly(ncleg.gov).gov
- ACLU of North Carolina, press release on Hobbs v. Smith (Pender County Superior Court, 2006)(aclu.org)