Single In Texas And Want To Stay That Way? You Better Not Do This …
If you are single in Texas ... and want to stay that way ... there are a couple of things you should absolutely avoid doing. Ever.
The rules for getting legally married in Texas are pretty simple - basically, both parties must be 18 or over, willing, not married to someone else and not related.
They also have to agree to live together and to represent that they are married. That's where staying single gets tricky.
You need a license and you have to show ID and go through a few other technicalities but it can be made into a simpler process. Even if you don't want it to be simple.
There are 2 ways to get married in Texas that DON'T require all the bureaucratic BS. So, if Bae wants a ring and you're anti, be sure you don't do goof up and trap yourself.
What Is Common Law Marriage In Texas?
Shacking up and saying you're married will do the trick according to the Texas Attorney General.
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” - source
So, that's one way you could wake up one day and find yourself hitched. The other one is an even easier trap to walk into. It's kinda like summoning Beetlejuice ...
Can You Become Legally Married Just By Saying So?
Yep. Say you're married, in public/in front of witnesses 3 times and you're in.
Quick, easy, legally legit and you don't have to cough up any money for an officiant, a hall, a band, food, alcohol, fancy outfits ... nothing.
Whether you like it or not, that does the trick ... and your better half doesn't even have to be there.
Boom.
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