Tex. Codes » Family Code · TITLE 1. THE MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP · SUBTITLE B. PROPERTY RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES · CHAPTER 3. MARITAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES
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Tex. Fam. Code § 3.404 (2026)

Application Of Inception Of Title Rule; Ownership Interest Not Created

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Sec. 3.404. APPLICATION OF INCEPTION OF TITLE RULE; OWNERSHIP INTEREST NOT CREATED. (a) This subchapter does not affect the rule of inception of title under which the character of property is determined at the time the right to own or claim the property arises.

(b) A claim for reimbursement under this subchapter does not create an ownership interest in property, but does create a claim against the property of the benefited estate by the conferring estate. The claim matures on dissolution of the marriage or the death of either spouse.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 692, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 838, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 768 (S.B. 866), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 411 (H.B. 1547), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2023.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 17 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2004–2025 · leading case: Harrell v. Hochderffer, 345 S.W.3d 652 (Tex. App.—Austin 2011).
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Harrell v. Hochderffer, 345 S.W.3d 652 (Tex. App.—Austin 2011). · cites it 5× “See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 3.404(a) (West 2006).”
Sink v. Sink, 364 S.W.3d 340 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012). “3d at 612 ; see also Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 3.404(a) (West Supp.”
Chavez v. Chavez, 269 S.W.3d 763 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008). “Characterization of property as either community or separate property is determined by the inception of title of the property, i.”
Guillermo Rivera v. Maria E. Hernandez, 441 S.W.3d 413 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2014). “Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 3.404. We do recognize, however, that the proceeds from the sale of separate property may be so commingled as to defy tracing.”
United States v. Orr, 336 F. Supp. 3d 732 (W.D. Tex. 2018). “As the Court mentioned earlier, Texas adheres to a strict inception-of-title rule "under which the character of property is determined at the time the right to own or claim the property arises.”
Brown v. Chesnut (In Re Chesnut), 311 B.R. 446 (N.D. Tex. 2004). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 3.404(b) (Vernon Supp.”
Thomas Luke Ponzio v. Alexis Ponzio, No. 03-23-00336-CV (Tex. App.—Austin June 27, 2025). · cites it 2× “But now on appeal, faced with Thomas’s argument that no reimbursement claim could arise during the marriage because reimbursement claims mature only upon dissolution of the community by, for example, death or divorce, see Tex. Fam. Code § 3.404(b), Alexis concedes 10 that the…”
Donald Harrell v. Kris Hochderffer, No. 03-09-00007-CV (Tex. App.—Austin June 10, 2011). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.404 (a) (West Supp.”
Barry Michael Smith, Jr. v. State, No. 03-10-00807-CR (Tex. App.—Austin June 10, 2011). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.404 (a) (West Supp.”
Suhey L. Attaguile v. Angelo F. Attaguile, 584 S.W.3d 163 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2018). “TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 3.402(a)(5) (West Supp.”
John Michael Fitzpatrick v. Deborah Lynn Fitzpatrick, No. 05-22-00001-CV (Tex. App.—Dallas May 8, 2023). “3d at 344 ; see also TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 3.404(a). “Inception of title occurs when a party first has a right or claim to the property by virtue of which title is finally vested.”
In the Matter of the Marriage of Pedro Bustos Rodriguez & Maria Deluz Rodriguez & in the Interest of A.I.R., a Child v. the State of Texas, No. 10-22-00152-CV (Tex. App.—Waco Dec. 30, 2024). “3d at 344 (citing TEX. FAM. CODE § 3.404(a); Chavez, 269 S.”
Show all 17 citing cases →
Tex. Fam. Code § 3.404(a): 7 cases
Harrell v. Hochderffer, 345 S.W.3d 652 (Tex. App.—Austin 2011). “See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 3.404(a) (West 2006).”
Sink v. Sink, 364 S.W.3d 340 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012). “3d at 612 ; see also Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 3.404(a) (West Supp.”
Chavez v. Chavez, 269 S.W.3d 763 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008). “Characterization of property as either community or separate property is determined by the inception of title of the property, i.”
United States v. Orr, 336 F. Supp. 3d 732 (W.D. Tex. 2018). “As the Court mentioned earlier, Texas adheres to a strict inception-of-title rule "under which the character of property is determined at the time the right to own or claim the property arises.”
John Michael Fitzpatrick v. Deborah Lynn Fitzpatrick, No. 05-22-00001-CV (Tex. App.—Dallas May 8, 2023). “3d at 344 ; see also TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 3.404(a). “Inception of title occurs when a party first has a right or claim to the property by virtue of which title is finally vested.”
Tex. Fam. Code § 3.404(b): 3 cases
Brown v. Chesnut (In Re Chesnut), 311 B.R. 446 (N.D. Tex. 2004). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 3.404(b) (Vernon Supp.”
Thomas Luke Ponzio v. Alexis Ponzio, No. 03-23-00336-CV (Tex. App.—Austin June 27, 2025). “But now on appeal, faced with Thomas’s argument that no reimbursement claim could arise during the marriage because reimbursement claims mature only upon dissolution of the community by, for example, death or divorce, see Tex. Fam. Code § 3.404(b), Alexis concedes 10 that the…”
Suhey L. Attaguile v. Angelo F. Attaguile, 584 S.W.3d 163 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2018). “TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 3.402(a)(5) (West Supp.”
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