H.B. No. 2240 amends the Texas Family Code to clarify the conditions under which certain marriages that are initially deemed void can be validated. Specifically, it stipulates that a later marriage becomes valid upon the dissolution of a prior marriage if the parties have lived together and represented themselves as married, unless specific conditions regarding the putative spouse are met. These conditions include the putative spouse's lack of knowledge about the prior marriage, their failure to live together or represent themselves as married after gaining that knowledge, and the requirement to file a suit to declare the later marriage void within a specified timeframe, which varies based on the putative spouse's circumstances, such as military service.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new subchapter that allows a putative spouse to file a suit to declare a divorce or annulment decree void if the court lacked jurisdiction at the time the decree was rendered. This provision aims to provide a legal avenue for individuals affected by jurisdictional issues in divorce or annulment cases. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 6.202 (Family Code 6)
House Committee Report: Family Code 6.202 (Family Code 6)
Engrossed: Family Code 6.202 (Family Code 6)
Senate Committee Report: Family Code 6.202 (Family Code 6)
Enrolled: Family Code 6.202 (Family Code 6)