Question:
What legal presumption did the Texas Supreme Court reaffirm in Estate of Claveria, and how does it affect disputes over the validity of successive marriages?
Answer:
In Estate of Claveria v. Claveria, 615 S.W.2d 164 (Tex. 1981), the Texas Supreme Court reaffirmed that the most recent marriage is presumed valid. This presumption holds firm until someone proves that a previous marriage still exists and was never dissolved. The burden falls on the one contesting the latest marriage. They must show not just that the earlier marriage happened, but that it remained valid and unended at the time of the second. The law favors order and stability. So unless there’s solid proof that the earlier marriage never ended, the court will treat the latest one as lawful.