common law

noun

• the part of English law that is derived from custom and judicial precedent rather than statutes. Often contrasted with statutory law.
• the body of English law as adopted and modified separately by the different states of the US and by the federal government. Compare with civil law.
• [as modifier] denoting a partner in a marriage by common law (which recognized unions created by mutual agreement and public behavior), not by a civil or ecclesiastical ceremony:a common-law husband
• [as modifier] denoting a partner in a long-term relationship of cohabitation.