A putative marriage is an apparently valid marriage, entered into in good faith on the part of at least one of the partners, but that is legally invalid due to a technical impediment, such as a preexistent marriage on the part of one of the partners.

How do I prove my spouse is putative?

To be deemed a California putative spouse one spouse must have had a good faith belief that the marriage was legally valid. The “good faith belief” required refers to an alleged putative spouse's subjective state of mind, and is not based on a “reasonable person” standard.

What is the meaning of putative marriage?

canon & civil law. : a duly formalized marriage that is invalid because of various impediments (as consanguinity) through recognized in some states as valid for certain purposes if contracted in good faith by at least one of the parties to it.