There is something called Common Law marriage. It derives from Old English Law. It is still done today though not nearly as much as it should be. So actually you are wrong. YOU would be considered Next of Kin If something were to befall your spouse in that instance with no wedding LICENSE. Most of you are content to be slaves, not even knowing that you are enslaved. So sad
Not in the UK or Ireland, there's not.
Just last week I read a report on the difficulties faced by the surviving partner after a death, when they thought they had a 'common law marriage.' The surviving partner has no rights to property, pensions, bank accounts etc unless they are in joint names or there is a will naming them as recipient.
The idea of 'common law' marriage actually came from the church in medieval times. Many couples lived together as man & wife after a simple betrothal / promise ceremony followed by consummation - without going through the sacrament of marriage. It was considered just as valid as a formal marriage. Indeed, several times it led to the dis-inheriting of a monarch when it was found that one of their parents had a common-law wife prior to marrying the queen, which meant that their children were illegitimate. (e.g. - Edward V was set aside in favour of Richard III because it was said Edward IV had been pre-contracted to Eleanor Butler prior to marrying Elizabeth Woodville, making his marriage to Queen Elizabeth bigamous).
Pre-contract common-law marriages were done away with in England at the time of the reformation. Whether they still exist anywhere else I don't know.
Parliament in Westminster is considering changing the law to give rights to co-habiting couples who
think they are in a common law marriage, because such a thing no longer exists.