Region 3: Dfps Unmarried Couples

also, I am in Grayson County can they back date a common law marriage (informal marriage) 2 years?! and how much does that cost?!

I think it would probably be easiest to ask someone specifically about your situation. You will probably get the best answer that way. I know that single people can easily get licensed, but I don't know any unmarried couples at my agency. This doesn't mean they don't exist, just means I have had any trainings with an unmarried couple (or I just assumed that they were married and they weren't).

Well, I know a same sex couple and they are both licensed. There are only a couple counties that will do a same sex adoption by both people in that situation. A case can be transferred there. Not sure if other counties would allow both people to adopt if they are a heterosexual couple instead. I kinda guess yes. My understanding is that if you both adopt at the same time, it costs no extra but if you have to do a 2nd parent adoption, it will cost you. Are y'all simply against marriage? You don't have to do it right away even, just before the adoption. Your homestudy can be updated to reflect a marriage if you decided to do it later.

Well, I know a same sex couple and they are both licensed. There are only a couple counties that will do a same sex adoption by both people in that situation. A case can be transferred there. Not sure if other counties would allow both people to adopt if they are a heterosexual couple instead. I kinda guess yes. My understanding is that if you both adopt at the same time, it costs no extra but if you have to do a 2nd parent adoption, it will cost you. Are y'all simply against marriage? You don't have to do it right away even, just before the adoption. Your homestudy can be updated to reflect a marriage if you decided to do it later.

It might depend upon the agency but Texas does recognize Common Law marriages, so I would think an agency would also. It sounds like you would meet what the law calls a "three-prong test" The law says: Texas: calls it an "informal marriage," rather than a common-law marriage. Under 2.401 of the Texas Family Code, an informal marriage can be established either by declaration (registering at the county courthouse without having a ceremony), or by meeting a three-prong test showing evidence of (1) an agreement to be married; (2) cohabitation in Texas; and (3) representation to others that the parties are married.

In NY, you don't have to be married but both of you would have to take the training.

My husband and I were in a the same situation when we started a few years ago. We registered as common law married with the county and they back dated it three years for us. We never had any problems with the fact that we were common law married.