Marital status is the legally defined marital state. There are several types of marital status: single, married, widowed, divorced, separated and, in certain cases, registered partnership.
Never married persons are persons who never got married in concordance with valid regulations. Married persons are those who got married before a competent body in concordance with valid regulations.
Widowed persons are persons whose marriage ceased to exist by death of one of spouses or by declaring a missing spouse dead respectfully. Divorced persons are those whose marriage was terminated.
De facto marital status
De facto marital status can be defined as the status of each individual in terms of his or her living arrangements within the family or household, regardless of that person's legal marital status. Persons who have the family status of 'partner' may also be seen as having the de facto marital status of 'living with a spouse or partner'. All other persons have the de facto marital status of 'not living with a spouse or partner'.