LogFAQs > #970398503

my SO and I have told people were married before, live together, and pretty much act married. Which is all it takes in Texas I guess.

https://guides.sll.texas.gov/common-law-marriage

Common law marriage, also known as marriage without formalities or informal marriage, is a valid and legal way for a couple to marry in Texas. Texas law states that a common law marriage may be proved by evidence that the couple:
agreed to be married; and
after the agreement they lived together in this state as husband and wife; and they
represented to others that they were married

https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=articles&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=46987

The requirement that each party must hold out to others as married simply means the parties must represent to others that they are married. Texas caselaw states that the purpose of this requirement is to ensure that there is no secret common-law marriage. While spoken words alone can fulfill this requirement, actions and conduct by each person are also examined. For example, introducing each other as spouses, wearing rings on ring fingers, or signing credit applications as a married couple could separately qualify as holding out to others as married. Filing joint tax returns, adding someone to the family country club membership, and even the address on Christmas card envelopes can come into play. Oftentimes, the evidence that supports the holding out element also supports an agreement to be married.

It does not depend on one particular fact. The court can infer an agreement to be married and holding out to others by proof that you lived together, told others that you were married, used your partners last name, filed joint tax returns as spouses or as a married person filing singly, signed leases or other documents as spouses, made joint purchases, included your partner on your health insurance, made your partner the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, made joint loan applications or agreements, applied for public benefits and listed your partner as spouse, and having children together. Introducing your partner as your spouse on a single occasion might not be enough by itself, but it may be if coupled with other evidence suggesting that you acted like a married couple and that others thought you were married.

This doesnt mean anything but thats kinda neat to know I guess.

Merry holidays, PotD