Common Law Marriage in Texas: Cohabitation & Your Rights

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TV interview about cohabitation agreements on CW33

Published on: February 9, 2022 | Jennifer Hargrave | Dallas Divorce Attorney | Cohabitating, Divorce, Media – Featured, T.V.

Jennifer Hargrave returned to CW33 Morning After to chat with Jenny Anchondo on the topic of Texas common law marriage. Is it possible to end up married in Texas, if your intention is only cohabitate? Watch the show below or scroll down to the transcript to find out – lightly edited for easier reading

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In this segment, we discuss Texas common law marriage requirements, clarify the legal impact of cohabitation in Texas under an informal marriage Texas framework, answer “does Texas recognize common law marriage,” detail how to prove common law marriage in Texas, outline steps for a common law marriage divorce Texas, enumerate key common law marriage rights Texas, dispel myths about any common law marriage time requirement Texas, cite the controlling common law marriage statute Texas, and show when to file declaration of informal marriage at the county clerk’s office.

Jenny

 

 

00:00:05

 

 

Oh, the interesting relationship topic we are getting into today.  Jennifer Hargrave is the owner of Hargrave Family Law and she works in the business of relationships and all legal matters surrounding them.

 

 

Today we wanted to talk about the idea that you may be ready to move in with somebody and cohabitate to see how things go but if you do it for too long, you could accidentally end up married. How does that work?

 

 

Jennifer

 

 

00:00:38

 

 

Right! In the state of Texas, we recognize common-law marriage which is when a couple lives together and because they meet the statutory requirements, they’re actually treated as being married, even though they never had a wedding ceremony.

 

 

A lot of times people move in together and they’re not ready to get married, but they start doing things like introducing each other as a spouse to friends,  or maybe they put their partner down as a spouse for a gym membership to get a better deal.

 

 

And in the state of Texas, there’s not a duration required to meet common-law marriage limitations.  So that’s where I think a lot of people are surprised. They think well we’ve only been living together for three months, it doesn’t count. But that’s not true.  It does count.

 

 

Jenny

 

 

00:01:25

 

 

I thought for sure, you were going to say, okay, well, once you get to the three-year mark, you need to have that conversation.

 

 

Jennifer

 

 

00:01:31

 

 

Nope. So the requirements are, you live together, you intend to be married and you hold each other out as husband and wife. But it’s the intent to be married that’s the one that people kind of fall into, right? Like you’re living together,  I assume you’re sharing a bed, you’re a couple, you’re doing things together. So it can be construed very broadly.

 

 

And where people really get into trouble is not so much during the relationship, but when the relationship ends either because you break up or because there’s a death. In the circumstances of death, you can have heirs come back and say, “Hey, you know, my mom was married to your dad. and so she’s entitled to half of the estate.”

 

 

So it’s really important that people know and pay attention to these little details. Cohabitation and Texas common law marriage aren’t always the most romantic thing to be talking about, but having that conversation can certainly help you avoid a lot of heartache down the road.

 

 

Jenny

 

 

00:02:26

 

 

Wow! So in court, would you bring in a witness, a friend who might say, “I’ve heard them introducing each other as husband and wife.” Would that prove intent?

 

 

Jennifer

 

 

00:02:38

 

 

Exactly. Right. So we’ve had anniversary cards. We’ve had friends and people who know them, maybe you have kids together and you’re showing up at school events. We look at tax returns, are you filing jointly as a married person to get a tax break? So, you know, we take a look at all of these things and these are not easy legal battles. It’s not a real clear yes or no. It’s one that the judge or jury is going to have to make the call on. So this can become, you know, a really expensive question to have answered.

 

 

Jenny

 

 

00:03:14

 

 

Oh yeah. I can see that. So let’s say a couple is getting ready to move in with each other. And they’re not engaged and don’t have the intention to get married at this moment. What should they do ahead of time to make sure that both parties are protected?

 

 

Jennifer

 

 

00:03:27

 

 

The easiest thing to do is a cohabitation agreement. There are forms that you can download. Obviously, I would suggest you talk with a lawyer because there are issues to be decided, but this agreement is a contract between the parties that say we are not going to be married by common law, right? If we get married, it’s going to be by a ceremony only. And then you kind of layout some of the factors of your living together, how bills are going to get paid. Could one party owe the other if those bills aren’t paid? So we kind of set some ground rules. Communication is so important. So before you move in together, it’s a good idea to sit down and do a cohabitation agreement and lay this all out.

 

 

Jenny

 

 

00:04:09

 

 

What do you do if you’re already living together and just seeing the segment and thinking, oh, we haven’t done that.

 

 

Jennifer

 

 

00:04:16

 

 

Yeah. So it’s not too late to do a cohabitation agreement. You know, both of you need lawyers. That’s what I would suggest. And so that it’s done well and, and it’ll hold up if, and when the time comes that the relationship ends.

 

 

Jenny

 

 

00:04:27

 

 

This was really interesting and I definitely learned something today. Thank you for your expertise. Jennifer has offered a complimentary Texas-specific guide to divorce. And I know this it’s kinda like, gosh, I hate to be like offering these resources for just divorce. But we’ve talked about it on this show. Sometimes that is the best thing for certain couples.

 

Compassionate Dallas Divorce Attorney Jennifer Stanton Hargrave

Compassionate Dallas Divorce Attorney, Jennifer Hargrave

 

Dallas Divorce and Cohabitation Resources

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Hargrave Family Law – Cohabitation Agreement Dallas Divorce Lawyers

Taking steps toward financial security and open financial communication within your relationship can be daunting. Reach out to us at Hargrave Family Law to help you explore your options for a cohabitation agreement. Hargrave Family Law was founded by compassionate Dallas divorce lawyer Jennifer Hargrave with a strong mission in mind. Using non-adversarial techniques, our firm advocates for you and your family in a way that helps you protect what matters most.

 


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Jennifer Stanton Hargrave, J.D. is the founder of Hargrave Family Law, a Dallas-based boutique family law firm that is rooted in empathy, excellence, and empowerment. Jennifer is a seasoned, well-respected Dallas divorce attorney whose career is marked by her commitment to helping families navigate the often painful and complex journey of divorce with dignity and clarity. She has made it her mission to build a robust team of professionals who share this passion and who excel in helping clients build new futures filled with hope and promise.

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