Texas Family Law Flashcards
Marriages that are void?
Age, If either party is under 16 without a court order
Bigamy, if either spouse is already married
Consanguinity, can’t be related
Same-sex marriage caveats
clergy and religious organizations do not have to participate
judges and county clerks could refuse to only if it could be assigned to another authorized individual available
Methods of Marriage
Ceremonial
Informal
Ceremonial Marriage Procedure
Get a marriage license
Find an authorized person to perform the ceremony
Validity of Ceremonial Marriage if Prongs are not met
Still valid if:
- reasonable appearance of authority
- at least one party acted in good faith
- neither spouse is a minor
Requirements for an Informal Marriage
- Neither Party is a Minor
- There is an agreement to be married
- WITHIN TEXAS, the couple represented to others that they were married
- WITHIN TEXAS, the couple lived together
Presumption of an Agreement to be Married
rebuttable presumption of no agreement if couple separated and ceased living together for 2yrs.
Declaration of Informal Marriage
Filing with the court that you meet the requirements of an informal marriage and allows you to back date the marriage to a date of your choice
7 Grounds for Annulment
- Minor without appropriate steps
- divorced less than 30 days before marriage and concealed this fact
- Impotency
- Incompetency
- Fraud, Duress, or Force
- Under the influence of alcohol or narcotics
- Marriage took place within the 72 hour waiting period
Exceptions to ground of annulment- minor
If brought by parent must be before minor turns 18
If brought by minor must be done within 90 days
Exceptions to ground of annulment- within waiting period
Not valid if... one party is on active duty the waiting period was waived spouses completed pre-marital education course Statute of Limitations 30 days
General Exception to Grounds for Annulment
Not available if cohabitated after defect was discovered
Must court’s grant annulments?
No, discretionary
Common reason not to grant an annulment
wife is pregnant
Jurisdictional Grounds for Divorce in Texas
one party must have been domiciled in Texas for 6 months
Venue for Divorce
any county where one party has resided for 90 days
Contents of Petition for Divorce
Whether a protective order for family violence is in place?
Are there minor children of the marriage?
If Yes, must include SAPCR
SAPCR
Suit Affecting the Parent Child Relationship
No-Fault Ground for Divorce
the marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict that destroys the legitimate ends of the marriage and there is no reasonable expectation of reconciliation.