Politics & Government

Texas Recognizes Couple's Common-Law Same-Sex Marriage

A woman has her common-law marriage with her deceased partner recognized thanks to Judge Guy Herman.

Travis County Probate Judge Guy Herman becomes the first judge to officially recognize a common-law same-sex marriage in Texas.

The judge’s signed acknowledgement that Stella Powell’s and Sonemaly Phrasavath’s eight-year relationship met the legal requirements of marriage without a license is a historic first in Texas. Herman signed the ruling on Monday in Austin and distributed it on Tuesday.

The ruling ends a long battle from Phrasavath’s to have official recognition of her relationship with Powell, who died last year. Powell’s siblings argued in a probate suit that Powell died single as she couldn’t marry another woman under Texas law. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opposed the finding, saying the Powell died before the U.S. Supreme Court recognized the right of same-sex partners to marry.    

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