Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

Re: Common Law Marriage in Texas

You may or may not be common law married. A common-law marriage in Texas requires an agreement to be married, cohabitation in Texas and representing to others that you are married. Also, there is sort of a statute of limitations to prove a common-law marriage after it breaks up - two years, with an exception. If you are common-law married, then you have exactly the same rights as a person who is formally married. In the case of a stepdaughter who was not adopted by you, you have no rights as a parent at all except as may be granted by other provisions of the Family Code.