Common law marriage in Texas
06-01-2011, 08:02 PM
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Common law marriage in Texas Ok, so I can't seem to find a definite answer. My girlfriend and I have been together for almost 7 years. We've lived together for just over 1 year, and both our names are on the lease. Do we qualify for common law marriage? I've read that you have to sign a certificate, and I've also read that you just have to consider yourself married.
The reason I ask is because if we ARE married through common law, I'm wondering if I can file my taxes as married that way I make some more on my checks, lol. Apparently Head of Household does absolutely nothing to help in this way, but I definitely qualify for that.
The reason I ask is because if we ARE married through common law, I'm wondering if I can file my taxes as married that way I make some more on my checks, lol. Apparently Head of Household does absolutely nothing to help in this way, but I definitely qualify for that.
06-01-2011, 08:08 PM
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06-01-2011, 08:10 PM
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Has you or her ever put yourself out as married???If so you are common law married ...ie has she ever used your last name in public or do you have a checking account together...Any of these can be considered common law wed...
06-01-2011, 08:17 PM
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I DEFINITELY keep our finances separate. She's TERRIBLE with money. As for using my last name, she doesn't do it too often, but on occasion she will. When people ask if we're married, we always say we might as well be. Oh, and we both wear "wedding rings".
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06-01-2011, 10:32 PM
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So if I were to file as "married", would I have to some how prove it? Also, later on could I just file as "single" again if I wanted to?
06-01-2011, 10:38 PM
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Nah, I'm not ready to get officially married yet. But if I can get more money on my checks, I'll take it. Lol. Otherwise, what's the point of getting a common law marriage?
06-02-2011, 02:39 PM
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Yes welcome to Texas You are married by common law because you have lived together for as long as you have an you can file your taxes as married. Just remember Marriage is the number one cause of divorce
Anyways hope things work out for you LOL!!
Anyways hope things work out for you LOL!!
06-02-2011, 02:48 PM
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06-02-2011, 03:10 PM
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Before my wife and I got married we decided to see what our taxes would be if we filed married versus single. If we would have filed 2010 taxes as married, we would have owed $4,000. Filing single I got back $1,000 and she was about zero and we put off the wedding until January of this year so we could adjust our W4 and 401K contributions. There is a reason it's called a marriage penalty.
