08/19/2026
If you and your partner have lived together for years, does that automatically make you common-law married in Texas?
Not necessarily.
Texas recognizes informal, or common-law, marriage when specific legal requirements are met. That distinction can become especially important after a death, when surviving-spouse status may affect who has the right to authorize cremation.
Texas recognizes common-law marriage when legal requirements are met. Learn how this can affect cremation authorization and family disputes.