The Elements of Common Law Marriage: What makes an informal marriage valid in Texas?

The court of appeals in this cases addresses a subject of much confusion and uncertainty among the affected public, the elements of common law marriage (informal marriage) in Texas, and the facts supporting them.

Quinn v. Milanizadeh (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Apr. 24, 2008) (Higley)(divorce, separate property, common law marriage, waiver of objection to associate judge)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice HigleyBefore Justices Nuchia, Hanks and Higley 01-07-00489-CV Tyrone Michael Quinn v. Shaleh Rene MilanizadehAppeal from 308th District Court of Harris CountyTrial Court Judge: Hon. Georgia Dempster

MEMORANDUM OPINION

This appeal arises from the divorce proceeding between appellant, Tyrone Michael Quinn, and appellee, Shaleh Rene Milanizadeh. Quinn challenges the trial court’s “Final Decree of Divorce” in four issues by contending that (1) the case should have been tried by the referring judge, rather than the associate judge; (2) the decree did not conform to Milanizadeh’s pleading; (3) the evidence did not show that a common-law marriage existed between Quinn and Milanizadeh; and (4) certain real property in which Quinn had a separate property interest was mischaracterized as wholly community property.
We affirm.
Background
In June 1998, Quinn and Milanizadeh began dating. One year later, Milanizadeh moved to Atlanta to live with Quinn, who had taken a job there. In 2000, the couple separated and Milanizadeh moved back to Houston. Two weeks after she returned to Houston, Milanizadeh discovered that she was pregnant. After learning of the pregnancy, Quinn moved back to Houston. The couple’s daughter, S.Q., was born on June 30, 2001.
Quinn and Milanizadeh purchased a home together in October 2001. Quinn resided in the home with Milanizadeh and his daughter. In April 2004, Quinn began working in Kuwait. Originally, Quinn had signed a one-year contract to work overseas, but then signed another contract and stayed a second year in Kuwait. During that time, when Quinn returned on vacation, he would stay with Milanizadeh at their home. In August 2005, while working in Kuwait, Quinn purchased a high-rise condominium unit in Dubai for investment purposes .
After finishing his work in Kuwait, Quinn returned home in June 2006 to live with Milanizadeh. After learning that Quinn had engaged in infidelities, Milanizadeh filed for divorce on August 31, 2006. At that time, Quinn still resided with Milanizadeh.
The case was referred to and tried by an associate judge. With respect to S.Q., the parties agreed that Quinn and Milanizadeh should be named joint managing conservators with standard possession rights and that Milanizadeh would establish S.Q.’s primary residence.
The issues tried to the associate judge were whether a common-law marriage existed between Quinn and Milanizadeh and, if so, the proper division of the marital estate. During trial, the associate judge first found that a marriage existed between Quinn and Milanizadeh. Trial then proceeded with respect to division of the marital estate.
Three weeks after trial, the associate judge sent the parties his written recommendations with respect to the marital estate. The associate judge made the following pertinent awards: (1) Milanizadeh was awarded the couple’s home and the balances in all bank and savings accounts and (2) Quinn was awarded the condominium in Dubai.
Neither party requested a de novo review by the referring judge, and the referring judge signed a “Final Decree of Divorce” incorporating the associate judge’s recommendations. Quinn now appeals the decree.
Challenge to Associate Judge Hearing Case
In his first issue, Quinn contends, “The trial [referring] court erred by allowing the case to be heard by an associate judge after a written objection was filed in Quinn’s original answer.”
Family Code section 201.005 permits a presiding district court judge to refer certain family law matters to an associate judge. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 201.005 (Vernon 2002). That section further provides that if one of the parties files an objection to the associate judge presiding over trial, then the case shall be tried by the referring judge rather than the associate judge. Id.
Here, in his original answer to Milanizadeh’s petition, Quinn filed a written objection to an associate judge trying the case. Quinn claims on appeal that he never waived his right to object to the associate judge trying the case. The record indicates to the contrary. The record reflects that Quinn expressly waived his right to object to trial before an associate judge. Specifically, Quinn and Milanizadeh, and each party’s attorney, signed a Rule 11 agreement waiving any objections to the associate judge hearing the case on the merits.
We overrule Quinn’s first issue.
Decree Conforming with Pleadings
In his second issue, Quinn asserts, “The trial court committed error in making an inequitable division of the community estate when the trial court’s judgment failed to conform to Milanizadeh’s pleadings.”
In her petition, Milanizadeh pled insupportability as the ground for divorce. See Tex. Fam. Ann. § 6.001 (Vernon 2006) (defining “insupportability”). Quinn correctly states that a judgment must conform with the pleadings. Tex .R. Civ. P. 301. Here, the decree states that “the marriage between Quinn and Milanizadeh is dissolved on the ground of insupportability.” Thus, as pointed out by Milanizadeh, the judgment does conform with Milanizadeh’s pleading.
We overrule Quinn’s second issue.
Common-Law Marriage
In his third issue, appellant contends, “The trial court committed an abuse of discretion when it concluded a common-law marriage existed between the parties.” Fairly considering his appellate arguments, we construe Quinn’s third issue to be a challenge to the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the finding that a common-law marriage existed between Quinn and Milanizadeh.
A. Standards of Review
In conducting a legal sufficiency review, we consider “whether the evidence at trial would enable reasonable and fair-minded people to reach the verdict under review.” City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 827 (Tex. 2005). We “credit favorable evidence if [a] reasonable [fact-finder] could, and disregard contrary evidence unless [a] reasonable [fact-finder] could not.” Id. If the evidence falls within the zone of reasonable disagreement, we may not substitute our judgment for that of the fact-finder, which alone determines the credibility of the witnesses and the weight, if any, to be given their testimony. Id. at 819, 822.
We review the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and indulge every reasonable inference that supports it. Id. at 822. Nonetheless, we may not disregard evidence that allows only one inference. Id. We will sustain a legal sufficiency challenge if the record shows one of the following: (1) a complete absence of evidence of a vital fact; (2) rules of law or evidence bar the court from giving weight to the only evidence offered to prove a vital fact; (3) the evidence offered to prove a vital fact is no more than a scintilla; or (4) the evidence establishes conclusively the opposite of the vital fact. Id. at 810.
In contrast, when conducting a factual-sufficiency review, we consider all the evidence in the record, both supporting and conflicting, and set aside the verdict only if it is so contrary to the overwhelming weight and preponderance of the evidence that it is clearly wrong and manifestly unjust. Plas-Tex Inc. v. U.S. Steel Corp., 772 S.W.2d 442, 445 (Tex. 1989); Cain v. Bain, 709 S.W.2d 175, 176 (Tex. 1986). In an appeal from a bench trial, we do not invade the fact-finding role of the trial court, which alone determines the credibility of the witnesses, the weight to give their testimony, and whether to accept or reject all or any part of that testimony. Nordstrom v. Nordstrom, 965 S.W.2d 575, 580–81 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, pet. denied).
B. Common-Law Marriage: The Basic Principles
It is undisputed that no ceremonial marriage occurred between Quinn and Milanizadeh. Rather, the question presented at trial was whether they were married by virtue of an informal, or as known colloquially, a “common-law marriage.” By finding that Quinn and Milanizadeh were married, the associate judge implicitly found that Quinn and Milanizadeh had entered into a common-law marriage.
In Texas, common-law marriage can be established by showing that the parties (1) agreed to be married; (2) cohabitated in Texas as husband and wife; and (3) represented to others that they were married. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 2.401(a)(2) (Vernon 2006); Russell v. Russell, 865 S.W.2d 929, 932 (Tex. 1993); Eris v. Phares, 39 S.W.3d 708, 713 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, pet. denied). As the proponent of the marriage, Milanizadeh had the burden of proof on these elements. Lewis v. Anderson, 173 S.W.3d 556, 559 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, pet. denied); Jenkins v. Jenkins, 16 S.W.3d 473, 480 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2000, no pet.). The existence of a common-law marriage is a question of fact to be resolved by the fact-finder. Jenkins, 16 S.W.3d at 480.
C. Analysis
1. Agreement to be Married
Quinn first challenges the associate judge’s implied finding that he and Milanizadeh had an agreement to be married.
To establish an agreement to be married, “the evidence must show the parties intended to have a present, immediate, and permanent marital relationship and that they did in fact agree to be husband and wife.” Eris, 39 S.W.3d at 714. The agreement to be married may be established by direct or circumstantial evidence. Russell, 865 S.W.2d at 933. The testimony of one of the parties to the marriage constitutes direct evidence that the parties agreed to be married. See Eris, 39 S.W.3d at 714 (citing Collora v. Navarro, 574 S.W.2d 65, 70 (Tex. 1978)); In re Estate of Giessel, 734 S.W.2d 27, 32 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1987, writ ref’d n.r.e.)). The conduct of the parties, evidence of cohabitation, and representations to others may constitute circumstantial evidence of an agreement, depending on the facts of the case. See Russell, 865 S.W.2d at 933; Eris, 39 S.W.3d at 714.
At trial, Milanizadeh presented direct and circumstantial evidence supporting her claim that the parties agreed to be married.
Milanizadeh first testified that when she moved from Houston to Atlanta in June 1999 to live with Quinn, she and Quinn agreed that they were married. She testified that when she first arrived in Atlanta, Quinn said, “Hello, Mrs. Quinn.”
Milanizadeh also presented evidence that the agreement to be married continued once the couple returned to Texas. The evidence showed that Quinn and Milanizadeh purchased a home together in October 2001 with a “VA loan.” Milanizadeh testified that she was identified in the VA loan papers as Quinn’s wife. The evidence further showed that the couple lived together in the home they purchased together. Quinn does not dispute that he resided with Milanizadeh in the home until April 2004, when he went to work in Kuwait. Milanizadeh testified that when Quinn came back to Houston on vacation while he worked overseas, he would stay at the home they purchased together. After his employment in Kuwait ended in June 2006, Quinn returned to Houston and again lived with Milanizadeh in the home they had purchased together. In July 2006, the couple went on a vacation together to Aruba and purchased a time share there together. Quinn testified that when he accepted a another job in Kuwait in the summer of 2006, he asked Milanizadeh to move there with him; however, Milanizadeh declined because she was in school to earn her master’s degree.
Milanizadeh and Quinn both testified that Quinn had Milanizadeh on his health insurance plan for two years.
Milanizadeh also testified that Quinn’s family referred to her as their daughter-in-law and her family referred to Quinn as their son-in-law. A friend of Milanizadeh, who testified at trial, stated that she thought Quinn and Milanizadeh were married. Quinn claims such evidence is insufficient to show an agreement because it is contradicted by other evidence in the record, most prominently his own testimony that he did not agree he and Milanizadeh were married. Quinn points out that Milanizadeh testified that she and Quinn had essentially ended their relationship in 2000 when she left Atlanta to return to Houston. But, Milanizadeh also testified that, after she found out she was pregnant, Quinn moved to Houston, and the two bought a home together, indicating a reconciliation.
Quinn also cites the testimony of Milanizadeh’s friend, who testified, although she heard Milanizadeh refer to Quinn as her husband, she never heard Quinn refer to Milanizadeh as his wife. Nonetheless, as mentioned above, the friend testified that she thought that Quinn and Milanizadeh were married.
In addition, Quinn points to a document, entitled “Contract Agreement,” that he and Milanizadeh signed with respect to the purchase of their home. The document provided that, if after five years, either Quinn or Milanizadeh wished to sell the home, the other party must either agree to the sale of the home or must buy 50 per cent of the equity accrued in the home to the other party. The document also provided, “Common law marriage should not be taken in consideration with respect to this document.”
Regarding the Contract Agreement, Milanizadeh testified that, though the document states that the parties were not signing under duress, she felt pressured by Quinn to sign it. She testified that Quinn asked her to sign the document on the day they were scheduled to close on the house. Milanizadeh stated that her daughter was only three months old, and they had already given notice on the apartment in which they had been living. She feared that if she did not sign the document, the closing would not take place, and they would have no place to live.
Quinn further points out that he and Milanizadeh had separate bank accounts and that he and Milanizadeh filed separate tax returns, filing as single persons. Milanizadeh testified that she and Quinn filed in this manner because it was more economically advantageous to them.
Quinn also asserts that Milanizadeh’s claim that the couple had an agreement to be married is undermined by her own testimony that she knew that Quinn was “dating” other women. Despite Quinn’s characterization, Milanizadeh testified that she learned that Quinn was engaging in infidelities, not that he was “dating” other women.
Quinn further cites evidence that, when the Dubai condominium was purchased, he purchased it alone. In contrast, Milanizadeh testified that Quinn used funds belonging to the marital estate to purchase the property. According to Milanizadeh, the two had discussed the purchase, and Quinn had told her that the purchase was an investment.
In sum, the evidence referenced by Quinn goes to the weight afforded the evidence and does not serve to negate a common-law marriage. See Giessel, 734 S.W.2d at 31 (concluding that “wife’s” denial of marriage in tax returns, social security, driver’s license, bank, and pay records did not negate existence of common-law marriage, but went to weight of evidence). Thus, any conflicts in the evidence did not preclude an implicit finding that Quinn and Milanizadeh had agreed that they were married; rather the conflicts go to the weight of the evidence and were for the fact-finder to resolve. See id.
Lastly, Quinn contends that, because he ceased living with Milanizadeh on April 21, 2004 when he moved to Kuwait for work, Family Code section 2.401(b) operates to create a rebuttable presumption that there was no agreement between the couple that they were married. Section 2.401(b) provides that if the proponent of the marriage does not commence a proceeding to prove the marriage under Family Code section 2.401(a)(2) within two years of the date on which the parties to the alleged marriage separated and ceased living together, then there is a rebuttable presumption that the parties did not enter into an agreement to be married. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 2.401(b). The undisputed record reveals that, after he returned from Kuwait in June 2006, Quinn lived with Milanizadeh for at least two months before she filed for divorce on August 31, 2006. Thus, the rebuttable presumption contemplated in section 2.401(b) has no application in this case.
2. Cohabitation
Quinn next challenges the cohabitation element. He contends that he and Milanizadeh stopped living together on April 21, 2004, when he moved to Kuwait for a new job. As mentioned, Milanizadeh testified that, when he returned to Houston on vacation, Quinn stayed with her in the home that they had purchased together.
The evidence also showed that, when Quinn finished his job in Kuwait in June 2006, he moved back to the home he purchased with Milanizadeh. She did not file for divorce until the end of August 2006. Contrary to Quinn’s position, this and other courts have held that evidence of similar living arrangements was sufficient to support a finding of cohabitation. See Winfield v. Renfro, 821 S.W.2d 640, 646–48 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1991, writ denied) (concluding evidence of cohabitation sufficient when man only spent about 100 days with woman in two years); see also Ballesteros v. Jones, 985 S.W.2d 485, 491 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1998, writ denied) (concluding that evidence sufficient to establish cohabitation element between man, a Mexican national whose permanent residence was in Nuevo Laredo, and woman, even though man split time between homes); Bolash v. Heid, 733 S.W.2d 698, 699 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1987, no writ) (holding that evidence that man, employed in Nigeria, stayed at woman’s residence during his periodic visits to Texas was sufficient to support finding that they lived together as husband and wife “to the extent possible under the circumstances”).
3. Holding Out to Others
Quinn urges that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the implied finding that he and Milanizadeh held themselves out to the public as being married.
To satisfy this element of common-law marriage, parties must have represented to others that they were married. The requirement of “represented to others” is synonymous with the judicial requirement of “holding out to the public.” Winfield, 821 S.W.2d at 648; Giessel, 734 S.W.2d at 30. It is well settled that “holding out” may be established by conduct and actions of the parties. Winfield, 821 S.W.2d at 648; Giessel, 734 S.W.2d at 31. Spoken words are not necessary to establish representation as husband and wife. Winfield, 821 S.W.2d at 648.
In this regard, as mentioned, evidence was presented that Quinn and Milanizadeh signed the VA loan to purchase their home as husband and wife. The evidence also showed that Quinn covered Milanizadeh on his health insurance for two years.
Milanizadeh testified that she heard Quinn refer to her as his wife to their friends and families. Milanizadeh’s friend also testified that she thought that the couple was married. The friend heard Milanizadeh refer to Quinn as her husband and never heard Quinn deny that he was married to Milanizadeh. Testimony was also presented that the couple’s families considered Quinn and Milanizadeh to be married. The evidence also showed that Quinn and Milanizadeh purchased a time share in Aruba together in July 2006.
Quinn contends that the equal inference rule prevents an inference of a holding out of marriage. As noted by Quinn, the equal inference rule applies in weak circumstantial evidence cases where the jurors would have to guess whether a vital fact exists. Lewis, 173 S.W.3d at 562 (citing Ford Motor Co. v. Ridgway, 135 S.W.3d 598, 601 (Tex. 2004)). Quinn contends, “[T]he equal inference rule should apply to this case because of the weak circumstantial evidence adduced at trial of holding out to others as married.” We disagree.
We conclude the equal inference rule does not apply because there was direct evidence of the holding out of a marriage between Quinn and Milanizadeh. See id. (concluding equal inference rule does not apply to direct evidence that couple had represented to others that they were married). Specifically, evidence was presented that Quinn and Milanizadeh held themselves out as being married when obtaining a VA loan. Milanizadeh also testified that Quinn referred to her publically as his wife.
Applying the appropriate standards of review, we hold that the evidence was legally and factually sufficient to support a finding that a common-law marriage existed between Quinn and Milanizadeh.
We overrule Quinn’s third issue.
Characterization of Property
In his fourth issue, Quinn contends that the trial court erred by characterizing the Dubai condominium “as wholly community property.” Quinn asserts that the property was purchased, in part, with funds that were his separate, pre-marital property. Quinn presents this issue as a challenge to the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence.
The Family Code requires that the trial court divide the marital estate of the parties in a manner that is just and right, having due regard for the rights of each party. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 7.001 (Vernon 2006). The trial court has broad discretion in dividing the marital estate at divorce. See Murff v. Murff, 615 S.W.2d 696, 698 (Tex. 1981). In our review, we will reverse the cause only where the trial court abused that discretion. See id. Under this abuse of discretion standard, the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence are not independent grounds of error, but are merely relevant factors in assessing whether the trial court abused its discretion. Zieba v. Martin, 928 S.W.2d 782, 786 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1996, no writ).
All property on hand at the dissolution of marriage is presumed to be community property. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.003(a) (Vernon 2006). It is a rebuttable presumption requiring a spouse claiming assets as separate property to establish its separate character by clear and convincing evidence. Id. § 3.003(b).
At trial, Quinn testified that part of the funds used for the $75,000 purchase price of the Dubai condominium came from a pre-marital retirement account. In contrast, Milanizadeh testified that the entire purchase price was paid with money earned during the marriage. No other evidence was presented regarding the source of the funds used to pay for the property.
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We note that the associate judge limited the evidence that Quinn introduced regardingthe separate nature of the funds used to purchase the property on the basis that Quinnhad failed to plead separate property. Quinn has made no challenge to this ruling.Close
As fact finder, the associate judge was permitted to believe the testimony of Milanizadeh and to disbelieve that of Quinn. We hold that no abuse of discretion has been shown with regard to the characterization of the Dubai condominium as community property.
We overrule Quinn’s fourth issue.
Conclusion
We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Laura Carter Higley
Justice
Panel consists of Justices Nuchia, Hanks, and Higley.