@nirvmetal2013 wrote:
Tx
OK, before you file jointly, you need to know some things about common law marriage.
To be married under common law in Texas, you must live together as if you were married, you must act as if you were married, you can't be married to someone else, your marriage can't be illegal, and you must hold yourself out to other people as being married. In other words, you must tell other people you are married. That could be simple, like checking into a hotel as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, or you could get announcements, have a party, etc. There may be a way to register a common law marriage with your county clerk's office but this only helps to prove there is a common law marriage, it is not required to register.
Once you have a common law marriage, you are fully married, for all purposes, in all states of the US, forever, unless you get a real divorce with a real judge and attorneys. Common law marriage is not something you and turn on and off like a light switch.
If you believe you have a valid common law marriage, then simple prepare your tax return, add one person's name, choose "married", and add the other person's name. If you have previously used Turbotax as single persons, it will be best to create a new account and start fresh, because copying from an old account can cause problems when your marital status changes.
