Can a person avoid legal consequences of a common-law marriage by refusing to acknowledge the relationship later, according to Estate of Claveria?
No. A person cannot retroactively deny the existence of a common-law marriage once it has been established by the requisite elements under Texas law. The ruling makes clear that the legal status of marriage, once formed, cannot be undone simply by a change of position or memory. This ensures stability in personal and property rights connected to the marriage.
Cite: Estate of Claveria v. Claveria, 615 S.W.2d 164 (Tex. 1981).