[Legal Opinion]
 Cohabitation for many years will not become a de facto marriage. Except as provided by law. The cohabitation after February 1994 is not a factual marriage.
 [Legal Basis]
 Interpretation I of the Marriage Law
 Article 5
 If a man or a woman who lives together in the name of husband and wife without going through marriage registration according to the provisions of Article 8 of the Marriage Law brings a lawsuit to the people's court for divorce, they shall be treated differently:
 （1） Before the promulgation and implementation of the Regulations on the Administration of Marriage Registration issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on February 1, 1994, if both men and women have met the substantive requirements of marriage, they shall be treated as de facto marriages
 （2） After the promulgation and implementation of the "Regulations on the Administration of Marriage Registration" by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on February 1, 1994, if both men and women meet the substantive requirements of marriage, the people's court shall inform them that if they have not completed the marriage registration before accepting the case, they shall be treated as having dissolved the cohabitation relationship.