Tex. Fam. Code § 3.401

**Tex. Fam. Code § 3.401. DEFINITIONS.** In this subchapter: (1) "Benefited estate" means a marital estate that receives a benefit from another marital estate. (2) "Conferring estate" means a marital estate that confers a benefit on another marital estate. (3) Repealed by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 768, Sec. 11(2), eff. September 1, 2009. (4) "Marital estate" means one of three estates: (A) the community property owned by the spouses together and referred to as the community marital estate; (B) the separate property owned individually by the husband and referred to as a separate marital estate; or (C) the separate property owned individually by the wife, also referred to as a separate marital estate. (5) "Spouse" means a husband, who is a man, or a wife, who is a woman. A member of a civil union or similar relationship entered into in another state between persons of the same sex is not a 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. 11(2), eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 411 (H.B. 1547), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.