You Don’t Need a Marriage License in Texas to Be Married: Here’s How

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Did you know that you and your significant other could be considered legally married in Texas without a marriage license?

Texas, along with several other states, recognizes common law marriage. This means that you don’t need to have a big wedding or a marriage license in order to be considered married in the Lone Star State. You and your partner could technically be married right now as long as you meet three specific criteria.

Texas law states that a common law marriage may be provided if the couple agrees to be married, represent to others that they are married, and live together in Texas as husband and wife. Just by following those three steps, you and your significant other can be considered married.

Because common law marriage is recognized as a legal union in the state of Texas, if the couple decides to separate after the informal marriage is in place, they must go through a formal divorce. Grounds for divorce within a common law marriage include insupportability, cruelty, adultery, abandonment and more.

So if you're thinking of getting married under common law because you think it gives you the benefits of being married without the mess of separation through a divorce, think again. Common law marriage is just as legally binding as a marriage license and comes with the same responsibilities; it's just another way to be married if you don’t wish to go the route of a license and/or traditional wedding.