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.

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.

Is a putative marriage valid?

For a void marriage to be putative, one or both of the parties must have been unaware of the defect which renders their marriage void. This will not constitute a valid marriage, but merely constitute that the relationship was that of a putative marriage and it may have some of the consequences of a civil marriage.