Family Law MEE Flashcards
Gifts in Contemplation of Marriage
if the marriage does not take place, gifts conditioned on the marriage must be returned
Antenuptial (Premarital) Agreements
valid contracts that address the rights of the parties upon divorce or death - marriage is sufficient consideration
Content of a Premarital Agreement
(a) disposition of property
(b) the making of a will, trust, or other arrangement to carry out the provisions of the agreement
(c) the choice of law governing
(d) any other matter not in violation of public policy or criminal statute
Requirements for Valid Premarital Agreement
(1) in writing and signed
(2) must be entered into voluntarily (no duress, fraud)
(3) full and fair disclosure of the parties assets or proof that that the party against whom the agreement is being enforced had independent knowledge of the assets
IF UPPA, third requirement only if the agreement is unconscionable
(4) some courts consider whether the economic provisions are fair and reasonable
Premarital Agreements and Void Marriages
if marriage is found to be void, a premarital agreement is enforceable only to the extent necessary to avoid an inequitable result
Premarital Agreement Silent as to Choice of Law
its enforceability is governed by the law of the state where it was executed or the state with the most significant relationship to the parties
Marriage Requirements
(1) License
(2) Ceremony with authorized officiant
(3) No legal impediments
(4) Capacity to Consent
(5) Age of majority
No Legal Impediments
(a) must not be too closely related
(b) not have a prior undissolved marriage to a living spouse
Common Law Marriage Requirements
(1) consent to marry (which includes having capacity and no legal imped)
(2) cohabitation
(3) couple holds themselves out publicly as spouses
Valid Common Law in One State
if a valid common law marriage is formed in one state, it will generally be regarded as valid even in those states that do not recognize common law marriage
Tenancy by the Entirety
In many states, if spouses take title to real estate jointly, a tenancy by the entirety is presumptively created
Marital Property
most property acquired during the marriage is marital property no matter how titled
Spousal Abuse Orders
protective orders can be granted ex parte and can last from one month to several years
Alienation of Affection
if a third party diverts the affection of one spouse so that the other is deprived of a marital relationship, the deprived may have a cause of action for alienation of affection against the third party
Alienation of Affection Requirements
(a) evidence of a genuine love and affection between validly married spouses
(b) evidence that the love and affection was alienated or destroyed and
(c) proof that the defendant’s actions caused the loss of love and affection
Criminal Conversation
when one spouse has sexual relations with a third person, the other spouse may have a cause of action against the third person for criminal conversation
Criminal Conversation Requirements
(a) the existence of a valid marriage
(b) act of adultery proven
Negligent Interference with Consortium
either spouse may maintain an action for loss of the other’s consortium due to injuries from a defendant’s negligence
Family Right to Privacy
families have the right to privacy in their homes and freedom from governmental interference in their domestic affairs
Parental Decisions
parents have authority to make decisions about most matters concerning the upbringing of their children, but certain state interest take precedent over autonomy
Constitutional Parental Rights
(a) right to marry
(b) right to procreate
(c) right to use and sell contraceptives
(d) right to abortion (within limits)
(e) right of related persons to live together
(f) right of parents to educate outside public schools
(g) right of parents to decide issues concerning the care, custody, and control of children
Annulment
backward-looking doctrine that declares a marriage invalid because an impediment that existed at the time of the marriage makes it legally void or voidable
Void Marriage
invalid, an utter nullity, because it failed to meet the essential requirements for a legal marriage
Who may Attack Void Marriage
any interested party may seek an annulment of a void marriage and the marriage is subject to collateral attack even after the death of one of the parties
Void Marriage - Impediment Removed
if the impediment causing the marriage to be void is removed, the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act and some states provide that the marriage becomes valid if the parties continue to cohabitate
Key Examples of Void Marriages
(a) bigamy or polygamy
(b) consanguinity (too closely related)
(c) nonage (minority states)
Voidable Marriage
valid until declared null. Because an impediment existed at the time of the marriage, one of the spouses may bring an action to have the marriage annulled
typically occurs when some type of event or condition affects the adequacy of consent
Voidable Marriage Examples
(a) nonage (most states)
(b) Incurable physical impotence
(c) lack of capacity
(d) duress
(e) fraud
Defenses to a Void Marriage
only way to defend an action to annul a void marriage is to deny the existence of the defect
Most Common Defense to a Voidable Marriage
ratification
Children of an Annulled Marriage
considered marital children
Annulment and Spousal Support
spousal support is not awarded in annulment - if previous canceled due to marriage, it is reinstated
Annulment and Division of Property
courts attempt to place the parties in their pre-marriage position, and usually give each party that property to which they have legal or equitable title
Divorce Jurisdiction
to have jurisdiction, only one of the parties needs to be domiciled in the jurisdiction
most states set a minimum residency period (90 days) before it may be instituted
Divorce Financial Issues
the court must have personal jurisdiction over the defendant
Full Faith and Credit
as long as one of the parties was domiciled in the state that granted the divorce, the decree is recognized as valid in all other states
if PJ - property, child support, spousal support, other financial issues given full faith and credit
Comity
courts are likely to recognize foreign divorce decrees if one party was domiciled in the country rendering the judgment
Mediator Duties
(a) explain the mediation process
(b) explain the right to independent counsel
(c) ensure that the parties have enough info for informed decision making
(d) remain impartial and disclose any potential bias
(e) control for any power imbalance between the parties
“No Fault” Divorce
most state divorce statutes provide for divorce without regard to fault
No Fault Divorce Requirements
(a) both spouses agree that the marriage is irretrievably broken
(b) parties have been living apart for a specified and continuous period of time
(c) both parties agree they are now incompatible and can no longer be married
Fault Based Grounds
(a) adultery
(b) willful desertion
(c) extreme mental/physical cruelty
(d) voluntary drug addiction or habitual drunkenness
(e) insanity
Defenses to No-Fault Divorces
denial of (a) irrevocably broken or (b) the parties have been separate and apart
Defenses for Fault Based Divorces
(a) collusion
(b) connivance
(c) condonation
(d) recrimination (nearly gone)
Defenses for Fault Based Divorces - Collusion
an agreement between spouses to simulate grounds for divorce or to forgo raising a valid defense
Defenses for Fault Based Divorces - Connivance
willing consent to the other spouses misconduct (limited to adultery cases)
Defenses for Fault Based Divorces - Condonation
forgiveness of marital offenses with full knowledge of the wrongs - resumption of marital relations after forgiveness is key
Defenses for Fault Based Divorces - Recrimination
arises when the party seeking the divorce is also guilty of misconduct for which a divorce may be granted (RARE)
Legal Separation
an order of legal separation does not terminate the marriage but, the parties can have all of their rights regarding property, spousal support, custody, and child support adjudicated
Three Approaches to Division of Property Upon Divorce
(1) Community
(2) Equitable Division of all
(3) Equitable Division of Marital Property
Community Property
all property acquired during the marriage is deemed owned one half by each spouse, and all property is brought into the or acquired by gift or bequest is separate property
Equitable Division of All Property
the court divides all property owned by either spouse, whether acquired before or after the marriage