Common-law marriage is a way for people to assert marriage or divorce rights, even if they and their spouse never got legally married. Texas recognizes a common-law marriage when the following are true:
The couple resides in Texas
They hold themselves out as married, such as by living together
They agree to be married
If you never legally married but can establish that you were married under Texas common law, you could be entitled to things like community property division, spousal support and child custody.