Dealing with dirtbag tenets. Part 2.

[SlowwHand]

No, it's not.

[snoopy369]

Common law marriage is nearly entirely gone in the US, I think only two states recognize them anymore, and they have very long waiting times ... (though full faith and credit means other states must recognize those states' CLMs, but they're only if you live in those states)

[SlowwHand]

Wikipedia says this, but I think it's outdated or misinformed.

Texas

Common-law marriage is known as an "informal marriage," which can be established either by declaration (registering at the county courthouse without having a ceremony), or by meeting a 3-prong test showing evidence of (1) an agreement to be married; (2) cohabitation in Texas; and (3) representation to others that the parties are married. While in the actual wording of the law there is no specification on the length of time that a couple must cohabitate to meet the second requirement of the 3-prong test, it is understood within Texas law that cohabitation must occur for an extended period of time, usually two years, but in certain cases where the situation is more complicated and other factors are involved, three years can be the requisite time period. However, if a couple does not commence a proceeding to prove their relationship was a marriage within two years of the end of their cohabitation and relationship, by law the marriage never existed in the first place, and no agreement to be married was ever present. (Obviously the wording can cause complications because cessation of relationship and cessation of cohabitation are not mutually inclusive — thus, the law is vague and interpretable.) See Texas Family Code Sec. 2.401.

[SlowwHand]

dp

[Tuberski]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Wikipedia says this, but I think it's outdated or misinformed.

No, it's neither outdated nor misinformed:

http://www.co.travis.tx.us/dro/common_law.asp

Domestic Relations

Common Law Marriage
Compliments of the Travis County Young Lawyer Associations
Q: My common law husband and I have been living in Texas and now want to validate our common law marriage so that it is legally recognized. How do we do that?
A: You can record a form prescribed by the Bureau of Vital Statistics which is available at your county clerk's office.
Q:If I end up going to court to prove up a common law marriage, what will I need to show?
A: You will need to prove up the elements of the common law marriage doctrine as outlined elsewhere in this article. In order to do this, you must show evidence on each point. Your own testimony can be evidence of the existence of a common law marriage; for example, you can testify that your partner introduced you in social situations as his wife, or that you introduced him as your husband. Other people can also testify to the same effect. In addition, you can ask the court to consider documents which reflect that you and your partner held yourselves out to the world as being married. Typical documents presented in these types of cases include leases signed as husband and wife, tax returns filed jointly as a married couple, and insurance policies listing one person as the other person's spouse.
Q: Are common law marriages recognized in other states?
A: Not all states have laws like those in Texas which allow persons to marry legally without going through a licensing procedure and marriage ceremony. If you are considering moving to another state, or if you think you may have entered into a common law marriage in another state because of your actions in that state, you should seek legal counsel from a family law attorney in the state which you are interested in.
Q: I have heard that if we live together for a certain period of time, we are automatically in a common law marriage whether or not we tell anyone we are married. Is that true?
A: No. You must satisfy the three-part test described elsewhere in this article to be in a common law marriage, no mater how long you have been living together.
Q: If we have children together, are we automatically in a common law marriage?
A: No. You must satisfy the three-part test described elsewhere in this article to be in a common law marriage,even if you have had children together.
Q: He has introduced me as his wife, although I have not introduced him as my husband. We have not taken any other actions that would hold us out to the world as being married. Are we in a common law marriage?
A: It depends on whether you tried to correct the impression that you were married. If you did, you may have some argument that you had not agreed to be married. But if you knew that you were being introduced in this fashion and did nothing to correct the impression that you were married, you may well be in a common law marriage.
Q: Do we have to hold ourselves out to the world consistently as husband and wife in order to be in a common law marriage?
A: No. Even one instance of publicly declaring yourself married can be sufficient to place you in such a marriage.
Q: Does being in a common law marriage have the same legal effect as being in a marriage where you had a license and a ceremony - for example, with regard to community property and child custody?
A: Once the common law marriage is legally established and in existence, yes.
Q: Can I get a protective order against an abusive common law spouse?
A: Yes, if you are in or have been in a household with a violent person and there are recent incidents of violence or serious threats of violence. Being in a common law marriage does not prohibit you from requesting a protective order.
Q: What makes a common law marriage?
A: Three elements must be present to form a common law marriage in Texas.
First, you must have "agreed to be married."
Second, you must have "held yourselves out" as husband and wife. You must have represented to others that you were married to each other. As an example of this, you may have introduced you partner socially as "my husband," or you may have filed a joint income tax return.
Third, you must have lived together in this state as husband and wife.

Q: How can I get out of a common law marriage?
A: Common law marriage may end in two ways. If there have been children or if property and debts remain undivided, you will want to seek a formal divorce. In a divorce, paternity, custody, support, and visitation can be determined, and debts and community property can be divided.

Under a new provision of the Family Code, either partner in a common law marriage has two years after you split up to file an action to prove that the marriage did exist. In order to fit into this provision, you must have separated after September 1, 1989.

Both partners in a common law marriage are responsible for debts and for care and support of children of the marriage. It is therefore urgent that you discuss the ending of this marriage with an attorney. You have a choice of methods, but they all require you to act within a certain length of time. However, even if the time has expired for you to obtain a divorce, other steps can be taken to get orders for payment of child support and visitation for children of the marriage.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 11:46 AM

ACK!

[SlowwHand]

Q: My common law husband and I have been living in Texas and now want to validate our common law marriage so that it is legally recognized. How do we do that?

Implying by question, as well as response, that it's not a legal relationship.

[snoopy369]

Well, common law marriage is always not a legal relationship, until it's validated. However, validation doesn't mean the same thing as 'getting married'; it does not require consent of both parties, but simply requires the three elements to have been fulfilled (varying by state of the exact details of course). Validation is more like the Court saying "Yes, this was a common law marriage" for the purposes of doing something legal (like getting a divorce, settling a debt, etc.)

However, as I said above I think only two states recognize them ... I guess TX is one of them, though I hadn't thought that the case.

[snoopy369]

Hmm, http://www.unmarried.org/common.html seems to disagree with me ... about ten states. Still not that many. I like how Alabama requires consummation I wonder if they check...

[LordShiva]

Did nobody mention the tenet-tenant thing in the Part 1 thread?

[chequita guevara]

I wonder why this dude just can't get his **** together.

[Dinner]

I've wondered that myself. When you first meet him he seems like a nice guy but after spending some time with him you get stuck with the impression that he's a dumb ass. The three of us throw a BBQ/House Party shortly after he moved in with Ben and I inviting all of our friends over. James could only muster one friend. It was kind of sad especially since he's been living here for four years.

[Dinner]

I think I out smarted dirt bag. He still hadn't paid a portion of the deposit, the utilities for the month of Oct, and the $100 late fee for paying the month of Nov late so today I gave him a three day pay or quit notice. I should have thought about this a while ago but really all I wanted to do was get him out so I thought I'd just forget about the money and gave him his 30 day notice. Since he wants to be like this then I will push him for the money and since he won't pay I can legally file my Unlawful Detainer suit against him five days sooner. That is five fewer days I have to wait to get him out.

[snoopy369]

And from your language you presumably handed this to him rather than putting it on his door or whatever, so more proof of delivery in court

[Mrs. Tuberski]

Originally posted by Oerdin
I think I out smarted dirt bag. He still hadn't paid a portion of the deposit, the utilities for the month of Oct, and the $100 late fee for paying the month of Nov late so today I gave him a three day pay or quit notice. I should have thought about this a while ago but really all I wanted to do was get him out so I thought I'd just forget about the money and gave him his 30 day notice. Since he wants to be like this then I will push him for the money and since he won't pay I can legally file my Unlawful Detainer suit against him five days sooner. That is five fewer days I have to wait to get him out.

I was just gonna say the same thing, and u have him on violating the lease by not paying all the renton time and even after the day that is was gonna be late. so this 3 day thing will help you more. The renters laws are so much differnt in texas, we can be locked out after being 4 days late on rent, as long as we are left with a notice of where we can get the new key and ways to get back into our home.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by snoopy369
And from your language you presumably handed this to him rather than putting it on his door or whatever, so more proof of delivery in court

The pay or quit notice must be served by someone other then the landlord. Dirtbag had also said he wanted another copy of the lease so my father and I drove up to his work (he hasn't been at the house lately), I gave him the lease, and my dad served him with the pay or quit notice. I watched as a witness.