My step-father has this lady living with him in his apartment she is not on the lease but they filed taxes together and she says that they are technically married. She is blackmailing him saying that if he does not pay for an apartment for her and her son and pay the first couple of months then she is going to file for divorce and try to take everything he has. First of all he doesnโt have much to start with my question Is that possible for her to do that sheโs lived with him for almost 2 years and he says that he does not want to be common law married with her and they are not even together but since they filed taxes together can she legally try and sue him for divorce?
Filing a joint tax return claiming to be married is only a single fact that might be considered tax fraud or it might be considered evidence of a common law marriage. Which of those is correct depends on much more information that you haven't provided. Generally, a common law marriage requires that both parties intended to be married and conducted their lives consistent with that intent. However, there are no simple rules to say whether or not there is a common law marriage and nobody will ever know if there is one until a judge hears all the facts and makes a ruling one way or another. If there is a common law marriage, it can only be ended by a judicial divorce. The threats to "take everything he has" is probably little more than the angry ravings of an ignorant person who doesn't know or understand the law and can be safely ignored unless and until she actually files for divorce.
Georgia recognizes the existence of all common law marriages that were entered into before a certain date but does not recognize them after that date. It is a bright line cut off rule. If they are married by the common law, then they can get divorced.
There is no common law marriage in Arizona. Unless they have a marriage license and have had a ceremony, it is not a valid marriage. He should consider amending his taxes however and filing separately, in order to avoid potential tax fraud issues.
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