Happy Independence Day! Late last week, the Texas Supreme Court issued a number of opinions relating to family law. We'll give a brief summary of the outcomes below.

In the first case, In re Marriage of I.C., a woman blew her chance at a $5,000,000 lump-sum payout upon entry of divorce. She and her husband had signed a premarital agreement providing that she would receive $5,000,000 if the two of them were to divorce.

This might sound unlikely, but it does come up. What can a couple do if they have already finalized their divorce, and they decide they made a mistake? Can they remain married? Can they annul the divorce? Keep reading to find out.

Q: I've been told that once I become married, everything will become community property. Is this right? I have a house I've already paid off. My fiance also has her own house, and she's almost paid off the mortgage. Is it true that these houses will become community property once we're married? What will my fiance's house be if I make some of the mortgage payments after we're married?

I’ve been asked whether filing income tax returns as married filing jointly can create a common-law marriage in Texas.  The short answer is no.

How you filed your taxes is only one factor a court might consider in determining whether or not you had a common law marriage. It is not sufficient on its own.

There are 3 (really 4) elements that must be satisfied to establish a common-law marriage in Texas.  Generally, you must have both agreed to be married.  Next, you would have had to live together (cohabitated) as husband and wife.  Third, you must have held yourselves out to the public as husband and wife.  Not to be forgotten is the fourth requirement, you must have done all three of these things at the same time.  See Tex. Fam. Code §4.401(a)(2).

Generally, the state will also not recognize a marriage that is specifically prohibited or that is against public policy.  Examples would include incest or underage marriages.  See Tex. Fam. Code §§6.201-6.206.

Did you both intend to be married?  Did you live together as a married couple would?  Did you introduce each other at social events as husband and wife? Did you wear wedding rings? Did friends think you were married or consider the two of you to be married? Filing your taxes as married is certainly evidence of your agreement and intent to be married, but that is only one factor the court considers.