(no subject)

[titusnowl]

What are the criteria for being "married" for car insurance purposes?  When I called Progressive to get a quote for adding Justin to my insurance policy, I referred to him as my fiance - because that's what he is - and they asked whether they should quote us as married or single.  I said single, because technically that's what we are, but now I'm wondering what the criteria are.  Is it  legally married - i.e. marriage certificate or common law?  We have joint everything - bank account, lease (for which we applied as a married couple, because for the lease the criteria for 'married' was "are you moving in together to be together, or to split the rent?"), etc., and if I were so inclined (and he didn't have health insurance from his mom's job AND the school) I could list him as my domestic partner under Staples' health plan, but that doesn't mean we're actually married for any other intent or purpose... and we won't be until '06.

Comments

[your-new-cuckoo.livejournal.com]

I'm not positive, but I think Progressive just takes your word for it. I can check for you when i get to work tomorrow.

Because that was vague...

[your-new-cuckoo.livejournal.com]

"takes your word for it" meaning: if you represent yourself as married, Progressive will consider you married. I think there is even a provision for common-law marrieds.

[your-new-cuckoo.livejournal.com]

Whatup yo.
Texas guidelines on marital status:
married couples living together.
married couples living apart but not legally separated
common law marriages.


To have a common law marriage in Texas, you must do three things:

(1) have an agreement to be married
(2) hold yourself out to a third party as being married, and
(3) live together

So call back and tell 'em you're married. Woohoo lower rate!

[(Anonymous)]

Texas law says (http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/bvs/registra/marriage.htm) (scroll to the bottom):

Common-law marriage, also known as "informal marriage" is legal in Texas, as is marriage by ceremony. A couple may choose whether or not to register their informal marriage. If they do choose to register, both the husband and wife must appear before the County Clerk to file a Declaration of Informal Marriage. The couple must list the date on the declaration from which they have considered themselves married. In other words, a couple can be married for some period of time before registering their informal marriage.

There are two ways a couple may prove that they are informally married:

1. They can file a Declaration of Informal Marriage; or
   
2. They Meet all of the following conditions:
   
   1. the couple agrees that they are married,
      
   2. they live together in Texas, and
      
   3. they represent themselves or "hold out" to other individuals that they are married to one another

If the couple should split up and one of the individuals wishes to prove in a proceeding that the common-law marriage had occured, she or he must start the determination process before the second anniversary of the date on which the couple separated and ceased living together. Otherwise, it is rebuttably presumed that the individuals did not agree to being married. [FC 2.401]

Progressive may use a different standard, however.