Marriage Paternity US Cases (1)

8/19/2019 Marriage Paternity US Cases (1)

1/27

104 P.3d 857 (2005)

209 Ariz. 487

In re the Marriage of: Alan Roger COOK, Petitioner-Aellant,!.

Pegg" COOK, Re#on$ent-Aellee.

%o. & CA-C' 0(-0727.

Co)rt of Aeal# of Arizona, *i!i#ion &, *eart+ent A.

January 13, 2005.

*858 Leyh, Billar, Sternber, P.L.L.!., Ph"eni#, By !ynthia $. Leyh, %"r Petiti"ner&$''ellant.

unt, en"rthy, +eerhau- "//ler, u-a, By aid J. "//ler, %"r e/'"ndent&$''ellee.

OPI%IO%

B$, J.

1 6n 1, the $ri9"na lei/lature a-ended thi/ /tate:/ -arriae /tatute/ t" 'r"ide that ertain-arriae/, een th"uh ;alid by the la/ "% the 'lae here "ntrated,; ere n"nethele// ;"id and'r"hibited; in $ri9"na. S.B. 1038, 42d Le., 2d e. Se//. ($ri9.1)< $ri9.e.Stat. (;$..S.;) = 25&112($) (;1 a-end-ent/;). >e re/"le /tatut"ry, h"ie&"%&la, and "n/tituti"nal i//ue/ that ari/e "ut"% the 1 a-end-ent/.

I.

2 $lan . !""? (;a''ellant;) a''eal/ %r"- a deree "% di//"luti"n. e "nte/t/ the trial "urt:/ @uri/diti"n, allein that there a/ n" alid -arriae.A1

3 $''ellant and Pey !""? (;a''ellee;) ere -arried "n $'ril 7, 184 in Cirinia. Dhey are %ir/t"u/in/. +arriae beteen %ir/t "u/in/ a/ then (and i/ n") alid in Cirinia. See Ca.!"de $nn. == 20&38.1 (178) and 20&45.1 (175) (/tatute/ li/tin "id and 'r"hibited -arriae/ d" n"t inlude -arriaebeteen %ir/t "u/in/)< Ca.!"de $nn. == 20&38.1 and 20&45.1 (>e/t, >SDL$> thr"uh 2004 S'e.Se//. 66) (/a-e). Dhe 'artie/ hae "ne -in"r hild, b"rn July 11, 18.

4 6n 18 the 'artie/ -"ed t" $ri9"na. $ri9"na:/ /tatut"ry /he-e (then and n") 'r"ide/ that a-arriae beteen %ir/t "u/in/ in Arizona i/ ;"id.; $..S. = 25&101.A2 "eer, hen the !""?/ -"edt" $ri9"na, *85 "ur la al/" 'r"ided that ;A-arriae/ alid by the la/ "% the 'lae here "ntratedare valid in thi/ /tate.; $ri9"na !"de "% 13, = 3&108 (urrently "di%ied a/ $..S. = 25&112($))(e-'ha/i/ added). %%etie July 20, 1, the lei/lature a-ended = 25&112($) t" add the 'hra/e,;e#e't -arriae/ that are "id and 'r"hibited by = 25&101.; 1 a-end-ent/. Dhe te#t "% $..S. = 25&

112, ith the 1 a-end-ent/ in b"ld, i/ a/ %"ll"/E

$. +arriae/ alid by the la/ "% the 'lae here "ntrated are alid in thi/ /tate, e#e't -arriae/ thatare "id and 'r"hibited by = 25&101.

B. +arriae/ /"le-ni9ed in an"ther /tate "r "untry by 'artie/ intendin at the ti-e t" re/ide in thi/ /tate/hall hae the /a-e leal "n/eFuene/ and e%%et a/ i% /"le-ni9ed in thi/ /tate, e#e't -arriae/ thatare "id and 'r"hibited by = 25&101.

!. Partie/ re/idin in thi/ /tate -ay n"t eade the la/ "% thi/ /tate relatin t" -arriae by "in t"an"ther /tate "r "untry %"r /"le-ni9ati"n "% the -arriae.

$..S. = 25&112. Dhu/, under the 'lain lanuae "% = 25&112($), the !""?:/ -arriae a/ ;alid; in$ri9"na in 18 (hen they -"ed here) but /ub/eFuently delared ;"id; by the 1 a-end-ent/.

5 Gn January 3, 17, a''ellant %iled a 'etiti"n %"r -arital di//"luti"n in the /u'eri"r "urt. Dh"uhinitially allein there a/ a -arriae, a''ellant /ub/eFuently %iled a -"ti"n t" a-endHdi/-i// di//"luti"n'r"eedin/ allein that the 'artie/: -arriae a/ "id and 'r"hibited under $..S. == 25&101 and&112($). Dhe trial "urt denied the -"ti"n. 6t held, i n 'art, that $ri9"na la 'ri"r t" the 1 a-end-ent/did n"t 'relude re"niti"n "% a -arriae alid in "ther /tate/ that a/ "id in $ri9"na 'ur/uant t" = 25&101. 6t then rea/"ned that beau/e the la 'ri"r t" the 1 a-end-ent/ 'er-itted re"niti"n "% the%ir/t "u/in -arriae in thi/ iru-/tane, the 1 a-end-ent/ "uld n"t be retr"atiely a''lied t""id a -arriae that a/ alid at the ti-e the 'artie/ -"ed t" $ri9"na.

$%ter denial "% the -"ti"n, trial en/ued. Dhe trial "urt entered ari"u/ "rder/ a/ t" 'r"'erty, /'"u/al

-aintenane, and "ther i//ue/. $''ellant ti-ely a''ealed. Dhe "nly i//ue e ta?e u' in thi/ "'ini"n i/that "% the alidity "% the -arriae.

II.

7 Dhe %ir/t Fue/ti"n e -u/t deide i/ hether the alidity "% the -arriae /h"uld be deter-ined under$ri9"na "r Cirinia la. 6% deter-ined under Cirinia la, the -arriae i/ alid< i% deter-ined under$ri9"na la, e are 're/ented ith /tatut"ry and "n/tituti"nal i//ue/ a/ t" hether the -arriae i/ alid.6t i/ unnee//ary t" addre// th"/e i//ue/ i% Cirinia la a''lie/. >hen the -aterial %at/, a/ here, areun"nte/ted thi/ Fue/ti"n i/ a -atter "% la hih e deter-ine de novo. Swanson v. Image Bank, Inc., 20 $ri9. 24, 2, , 77 P.3d 43, 441 (2003) (;!h"ie&"%&la i//ue/ are Fue/ti"n/ "% la, hih edeide de novo.;).

8 >ith a /ini%iant e#e'ti"n a''liable here, $ri9"na %"ll"/ the eneral rule that it i/ the la "% the'lae here the -arriae i/ elebrated, n"t the la "% the 'lae here the di"re ta?e/ 'lae, thatdeter-ine/ the alidity "% the -arriae. Horton v. Horton, 22 $ri9. 40, 44, 18 P. 1105, 1107 (121)(re"ni9in the ;"--"n&la rule; that hen ;A"n/idered -erely a/ a "ntrat, Aa -arriae i/ alideeryhere i% entered int" a"rdin t" the le# l"i.;)A3. $/ "ur /u're-e "urt ha/ /tatedE

6t i/ the eneral rule "% la that a -arriae alid under the la/ "% the "untry here "ntrated ill bere"ni9ed a/ alid eeryhere. Dhe Fue/ti"n "% the alidity "% the -arriae, there%"re, de'end/ u'"n the'lae here it i/ "ntrated, and n"t the 'lae here an ati"n %"r di"re i/ br"uht.

Gradias v. Gradias, 51 $ri9. 35, 3&37, 74 P.2d 53, 53 (137) (itati"n "-itted). Dhe rea/"n/ %"r thi/ rulehae been de/ribed a/ the ;'reditability and the inter/tate "rder ari/in %r"- /"iety:/ intere/t in

-arriae.; *80 Vandever v. Indus. Comm'n, 148 $ri9. 373, 37, 714 P.2d 8, 8 ($''.185) (itati"n"-itted).


2/27

Ju/t a/ endurin a/ the eneral rule, h"eer, ha/ been $ri9"na:/ e#e'ti"n t" that r ule< na-ely, thatthe power t" de%ine a alid -arriae i/ e/ted in thi/ /tate:/ lei/lature and n"t in the lei/lature ("r

@udiiary) "% an"ther /tate n"r in the @udiiary "% thi/ /tate. Horton, 22 $ri9. at 45&, 18 P. at 1107<Vandever, 148 $ri9. at 37&77, 714 P.2d at 8&70. Gur /u're-e "urt de/ribed that '"er a/ %"ll"/E

!e "egislature undou#tedl$ !ad t!e power to enact w!at marriages s!all #e void in t!is state,notwit!standing t!eir validit$ in t!e state w!ere cele#rated, hether "ntrated beteen 'artie/ h" erein ""d %aith d"-iiled in the /tate here the ere-"ny a/ 'er%"r-ed, "r beteen 'artie/ h", beind"-iiled in thi/ /tate, le%t the /tate %"r the 'ur'"/e "% a"idin it/ /tatute/ and -arried.

Horton, 22 $ri9. at 45, 18 P. at 1107 (e-'ha/i/ added). Dhu/, e hae l"n re"ni9ed that thelei/lature "% thi/ /tate, n"tith/tandin the eneral rule, -ay delare hat -arriae/ are alid ("r "id)in $ri9"na even i% the -arriae 'ertain/ t" 'er/"n/ ;h" ere in ""d %aith d"-iiled in the /tate herethe ere-"ny a/ 'er%"r-ed; and the -arriae i/ alid in that /tate.

10 G% "ur/e, a/ ith all e#eri/e/ "% lei/latie '"er, the lei/lature:/ enat-ent/ "n thi/ /ub@et are/ub@et t" the li-itati"n/ "% the Inited State/ and the $ri9"na !"n/tituti"n/. I.S. !"n/t. art. C6, l. 2(Su're-ay !lau/e)< $ri9. !"n/t. art. 2, = 3 (;Dhe !"n/tituti"n "% the Inited State/ i/ the /u're-e la "%the land.;)< &ar#ur$ v. &adison, 1 !ranh 137, 5 I.S. 137, 2 L.d. 0 (1803)< Co!en v. State, 121 $ri9. ,588 P.2d 2 (178) (delarin lei/lati"n inalid ba/ed "n "n/tituti"nal r"und/)< see also Stand!ardtv. Superior Court, 20 $ri9. 27, 77 P.3d 451 ($''.2003) ("nludin that $ri9"na:/ lei/latie enat-entli-itin -arriae t" "ne -an and "ne "-an a/ "n/tituti"nal). Dhu/, ab/ent "n/tituti"nal

"n/iderati"n/, "ur a/e/ h"ld that the 'ara-eter/ "% -arriae in Arizona hether "riinally "ntratedin thi/ /tate "r el/ehere are a -atter %"r the 'e"'le "% Arizona atin thr"uh the lei/lature "r bydiret -andate. Dh"/e 'ara-eter/ are n"t a -atter %"r the 'e"'le, lei/lature, "r "urt/ "% an"ther /tate.

11 6n "n/iderin the h"ie&"%&la i//ue/ /urr"undin "ut&"%&/tate -arriae/, it i/ i-'"rtant t" "n/ider$ri9"na:/ treat-ent "% the 'ertinent 'rini'le/ /et %"rth in the e/tate-ent (Se"nd) "% !"n%lit "% La/(171) (;e/tate-ent;) 'ertainin t" -arriae. >hile $ri9"na in"?e/ /"-e 'rini'le/ %r"- thee/tate-ent, e d" n"t %"ll" it in ertain /ini%iant reard/. S'ei%ially, e/tate-ent = 283(1) and (2)b"th in"?e the ele-ent "% hih /tate had ;the -"/t /ini%iant relati"n/hi'; t" the 'artie/ at the ti-e "%the -arriae in deter-inin hih /tate:/ la t" a''ly. Seti"n 283(1) 'r"ide/ that ;Athe alidity "% a-arriae ill be deter-ined by the l"al la "% the /tate hih, ith re/'et t" the 'artiular i//ue, ha/the -"/t /ini%iant relati"n/hi' t" the /'"u/e/ and the -arriae under the 'rini'le/ /tated in = .;Seti"n (1) then 'r"ide/ a/ %"ll"/E ;$ "urt, /ub@et t" "n/tituti"nal re/triti"n/, ill %"ll" a /tatut"ry

diretie "% its own state "n h"ie "% la.; (-'ha/i/ added.) Dhi/ 'rini'le %r"- = (1) iin'ree-inene t" the lei/latie 'r"n"une-ent "% ;it/ "n /tate; i/ "n/i/tent ith Horton, and/ub/eFuent auth"ritie/. See, e.g., Vandever, 148 $ri9. at 37&77, 714 P.2d at 8&70. $ri9"na la %"ll"/= (1).

12 Seti"n 283(2) "% the e/tate-ent, h"eer, d"e/ n"t inlude thi/ de%erene t" the lei/lature "% the%"ru- /tate. 6t /tate/ the eneral rule that ;Aa -arriae hih /ati/%ie/ the reFuire-ent/ "% the /tate

here the -arriae a/ "ntrated ill eeryhere be re"ni9ed a/ alid.; Inle// the lei/lature ha/delared "theri/e, $ri9"na %"ll"/ thi/ %"r-ulati"n "% the eneral rule. Supra 8&. $ri9"na d"e/ n"t,h"eer, %"ll" the e#e'ti"n /tated in = 283(2).

13 Dhe e#e'ti"n that e/tate-ent = 283(2) 'r"ide/ t" the eneral rule i/ ba/ed "n the '"liy "% the/tate ith the ;-"/t /ini%iant relati"n/hi'.; Seti"n 283(2) a''lie/ the eneral rule ;unle// it i"late/ the/tr"n 'ubli '"liy o% anot!er state w!ic! !ad t!e most signi%icant relations!ip t" the /'"u/e/ and the-arriae at the ti-e "% the *81 -arriae.; e/tate-ent (Se"nd) "% !"n%lit "% La/ = 283(2) (171)

(e-'ha/i/ added). $/ Horton e#'re//ly h"ld/, the $ri9"na lei/lature i/ %ree t" in"re (/ub@et t""n/tituti"nal "n/traint/) the '"liy "n/iderati"n/ "% an"ther /tate in deter-inin hether -arriae/ arealid "r "id in $ri9"na regardless "% hether that "ther /tate had the -"re /ini%iant relati"n/hi'. ;!e"egislature undou#tedl$ !ad t!e power to enact w!at marriages s!all #e void in t!is state,

notwit!standing t!eir validit$ in t!e state w!ere cele#rated, hether "ntrated beteen 'artie/ h" erein ""d %aith d"-iiled in the /tate here the ere-"ny a/ 'er%"r-ed; "r n"t. Horton, 22 $ri9. at 45,18 P. at 1107. D" a/e/ illu/trate the '"int.

14 6n Vandever, the 'artie/ ere aruably d"-iiled in $ri9"na, yet "ne 'arty "ntended that a

"--"n&la -arriae had been entered int" 'ur/uant t" the la "% !"l"rad". Dhi/ "urt e#'re//lyre@eted a reFue/t t" ;in"r'"rateA int" $..S. = 25&112 a h"ie&"%&la analy/i/ that "uld reFuire thi/"urt t" di/ern hih /tate ha/ the -"/t /ini%iant "ntat/ ith the A-arriae relati"n/hi'.; 148 $ri9.at 37, 714 P.2d at 8. Dh"uh itin th"/e '"rti"n/ "% = 283(2) that all"ed %"r e#e'ti"n/ t" theeneral rule ba/ed "n /tr"n '"liy "n/iderati"n/, the "urt re@eted the reFue/t that it l""? t" the /tate

ith the ;-"/t /ini%iant relati"n/hi'; a/ the e/tate-ent 'r"ided. Id.

15 Vandever's analy/i/ a/ ba/ed "n Horton's 'r"n"une-ent reardin the '"er "% the lei/lature t"de%ine hat a/, and hat a/ n"t, a alid -arriae. Id. at 37&77, 714 P.2d at 8&70. Vandever deter-ined the 'ubli '"liy "n/iderati"n/ a/ eidened by $ri9"na:/ /tatut"ry enat-ent/. Id. (re%erenin th"/e -arriae/ /'ei%ied a/ "id and 'r"hibited in $..S. = 25&101). Vandever delined t"tie the 'ubli '"liy rea/"n/ @u/ti%yin re%u/al t" ae't a -arriae t" the /tate ith the -"/t /ini%iantrelati"n/hi'. 6t l""?ed t", and %"ll"ed, Arizona's /tatut"ry enat-ent/ in deter-inin the 'ubli '"liy

"n/iderati"n/ that it /h"uld a''ly. See a$lor v. Gra!am Count$ C!am#er o% Commerce, 201 $ri9. 184,11, 27, 33 P.3d 518, 52 ($''.2001) (;A>hen, a/ here, the lei/lature ha/ learly /'"?en "n a -atter

ithin it/ d"-ain, it/ "rd "n/titute/ 'ubli '"liy "n that /ub@et and "ntr"l/, a//u-in n""n/tituti"nal i-'edi-ent/ e#i/t.;) (itin a$ v. ucson &ed. Ctr., 72 $ri9. 22, 35, 230 P.2d 220, 22(151) (;Dhe delarati"n "% K'ubli '"liy: i/ 'ri-arily a lei/latie %unti"n.;))< Harrison v. "aveen, 7 $ri9.337, 344, 1 P.2d 45, 40 (148) (;ADhe -atter "% deter-inin hat i/ K""d 'ubli '"liy: i/ %"r thee#eutie and lei/latie de'art-ent/ and ... the "urt/ -u/t ba/e their dei/i"n/ "n the la a/ ita''ear/ in the "n/tituti"n and /tatute/.;). Dhu/, the Vandever "urt a''r"'riately re@eted the reFue/t t"enra%t a ;-"/t /ini%iant relati"n/hi'; te/t "nt" $..S. = 25&101 and &112 in deter-inin hat -arriae/

"uld be alid "r "id in $ri9"na.A4

1 $ /e"nd 'ertinent a/e t" thi/ '"int i/ (onlann v. &acgurn, 203 $ri9. 380, 55 P.3d 74 ($''.2002). 6nthat a/e a -arriae a/ 'er%"r-ed in Jali/", +e#i". B"th 'artie/ ere re/ident/ "% $ri9"na. $''lyin

the eneral rule, the alidity "% the -arriae "uld then turn "n +e#ian la. Dhe -arriae did n"t"-'ly ith +e#ian la beau/e ;the 'er/"n h" /ined the -arriae erti%iate did n"t 'er%"r- theere-"ny.; Id. at 383, 14, 55 P.3d at 77. Beau/e the 'artie/ in ""d %aith belieed that a alidere-"ny had been 'er%"r-ed, and in /uh iru-/tane/ $ri9"na la "uld re"ni9e the ere-"ny,the "urt re"ni9ed the -arriae. Id. at 382&84, 387, , 15&20, 38, 55 P.3d at 7&78, 81. (onlann, h"eer, al/" '"inted t" the @u/ti%ied e#'etati"n/ "% the 'artie/ and the %at that the -"/t /ini%iantrelati"n/hi' "% the 'artie/ a/ t" the /tate "% $ri9"na. Id. at 383&84, 15&20, 55 P.3d at 77&78. 6t %"undthat a -arriae that a/ *82 ;tehnially %laed; in the @uri/diti"n here 'er%"r-ed "uld n"nethele//be re"ni9ed in $ri9"na a/ it a/ consistent ith $ri9"na la. Id. at 384, 15, 55 P.3d at 78. Dhu/,(onlann did n"t e-'l"y the ;-"/t /ini%iant relati"n/hi'; "n/iderati"n t" ie e%%et t" a -arriae that

"uld "theri/e n"t be re"ni9ed in $ri9"na< it "n/idered the relati"n/hi' "% the 'artie/ t" the %"ru- t"e#'lain w!$ it a/ iin e%%et t" a -arriae that a/ alid in $ri9"na but not in the 'lae here'er%"r-ed. Id.) see e/tate-ent = 283(2) -t. i. $dditi"nally, the -arriae /tatute at i//ue here d"e/ n"t" t" a ;tehnial %la; in a -arriae 'r"eedin (a/ in (onlann), but rather t" a /ub/tantie dei/i"nba/ed "n a /tatut"ry deter-inati"n "% h" -ay and h" -ay n"t enter i nt" a -arriae.


3/27

17 Dhe eneral rule e#'liitly /tated in (onlann i/ the /a-e rule %r"- Horton, Vandever, and hereE;*nless strong pu#lic polic$ e+ceptions reuire ot!erwise, the alidity "% the -arriae i/ enerallydeter-ined by the la "% the 'lae "% -arriae.; 203 $ri9. at 383, 12, 55 P.3d at 77 (e-'ha/i/ added).Dhe ;/tr"n 'ubli '"liy e#e'ti"n/; e l""? t" in deter-inin hih /tate:/ la t" a''ly are th"/e'r"n"uned by the Arizona lei/lature. Horton, 22 $ri9. at 45, 18 P. at 1107< Vandever, 148 $ri9. at 37,714 P.2d at 8< see also supra 15 %"r additi"nal auth"ritie/. Dhey are /tated (at lea/t in 'art) in $..S.== 25&101 and &112, hih delare ertain -arriae/ "id. !"ntrary t" e/tate-ent = 283(2), the '"liy"n/iderati"n/ are n"t th"/e "% /"-e "ther /tate. Dhi/ i/ the a/e een i% that "ther /tate, a/ here, ha/ a-"re /ini%iant relati"n/hi' t" the 'artie/ at the ti-e the -arriae a/ "ntrated.

18 Dhat "ur a/e/ in/trut u/ t" l""? t" $ri9"na:/ /tatute/ "n the alidity "% -arriae een i% an"ther/tate ha/ a -"re /ini%iant relati"n/hi' i/ 'artiularly a't ien the i-'"rtane "% -arriae and the're/ent dierent ie/ "n that /ub@et. +arriae i/ a %"undati"n /t"ne in the bedr"? "% "ur /tate and"--unitie/. $/ the Inited State/ Su're-e !"urt l"n a" /aid, ;-arriae ... i/ an in/tituti"n, in the-aintenane "% hih in it/ 'urity the 'ubli i/ dee'ly intere/ted, %"r it i/ the %"undati"n "% the %a-ily and"% /"iety, ith"ut hih there "uld be neither iili9ati"n n"r 'r"re//.; &a$nard v. Hill, 125 I.S. 10,211, 8 S.!t. 723, 31 L.d. 54 (1888)< see also Skinner v. -kla!oma, 31 I.S. 535, 541, 2 S.!t. 1110,8 L.d. 155 (142) (de/ribin -arriae a/ ;%unda-ental t" the ery e#i/tene and /urial "% therae;)< &oran v. &oran, 188 $ri9. 13, 144, 33 P.2d 1207, 1212 ($''.1) (;ADhe /tate i/ al/" vitall$concerned ith the e/tabli/h-ent "% -arriae/.;) ( e-'ha/i/ added)< oodwort! v. oodwort!, 202 $ri9.17, 183, 22, 42 P.3d 10, 14 ($''.2002) (;Dhe health "% the %a-ily i/ critical t" the health andibrany "% "ur "--unitie/ and "ur /tate.;) (e-'ha/i/ added). "eer, n"tith/tandin the%"undati"nal a/'et/ "% -arriae, there i/ n" ertainty that /tate/, "--unitie/, and iti9en/ d" ("r ill)aree "n it/ 'ara-eter/ "r ;it/ 'urity,; a/ &a$nard de/ribed it. Dhere are /tr"nly dierent ie/ "n

hat the /"'e "% -arriae /h"uld be a-"n the %i%ty /tate/.A5 S"-e arue that traditi"nal *83;-arriae&ba/ed %a-ilie/ ... are in"-'arably /u'eri"r t" any "ther -"del; "% %a-ily /truture. Lynn .>ardle, Is &arriage -#solete/, 10 +6!. J. M L. 18, 214 (2003). Gther/ ure that ;e de/tr"ythe -arital -"del alt"ether.; +artha $lbert/"n Nine-an, D MID +GD, D SOI$LN$+6L $M GD D>MD6D !MDI D$6S 5 (15). !iti9en/ "% $ri9"na hae n""ntr"l "er hat '"liie/ "ther /tate/ hae ad"'ted, "r -ay in the %uture ad"'t, that 'ertain t" -arriae.$ri9"na iti9en/, h"eer, d" "ntr"l (thr"uh the 'r"e// "% eleti"n/) the '"liie/ their "n lei/lature

ill ad"'t "n thi/ %"undati"nal i//ue. Inle// "n/tituti"nally reFuired, $ri9"na /h"uld n"t be held h"/taet" the '"liie/ "% an"ther /tate "n a /ub@et /" ital a/ h" -ay "r -ay n"t -arry.

1 Dhu/, under a "n%lit&"%&la analy/i/, $ri9"na auth"ritie/ reFuire u/ t" re"ni9e the 'ree-inene"% the $ri9"na lei/lature:/ e#'re// /tatut"ry enat-ent/ a/ t" hether a 'artiular "ut&"%&/tate -arriaei/ alid "r "id in $ri9"na. >e d" n"t a''ly the la %r"- the /tate "% Cirinia, een th"uh Cirinia had the-"/t /ini%iant relati"n/hi' t" the 'artie/ at the ti-e "% the -arriae.

III.

A.

20 ain deter-ined that e a''ly $ri9"na la, a/ "''"/ed t" Cirinia la,A e n" turn t" the$ri9"na /tatute.

21 >hen "n/iderin a /tatute e are reFuired t" ie it, i% '"//ible, a "n/tituti"nal inter'retati"n.Ha$es v. Continental Ins. Co., 178 $ri9. 24, 272, 872 P.2d 8, 7 (14) (;A6% '"//ible thi/ "urt"n/true/ /tatute/ t" a"id renderin the- un"n/tituti"nal.;) (itati"n/ "-itted). 6n a iru-/tane;here alternate "n/truti"n/ are aailable, e /h"uld h""/e that hih a"id/ "n/tituti"nal di%%iulty.;

Sla$ton v. S!umwa$, 1 $ri9. 87, 2, 800 P.2d 50, 55 (10) (itati"n/ "-itted)< see also "akeHavasu Cit$ v. &o!ave Count$, 138 $ri9. 552, 558, 75 P.2d 1371, 1377 ($''.183) (;A6% the /tatute i//u/e'tible t" t" inter'retati"n/, "ne "% hih render/ it un"n/tituti"nal, e -u/t ad"'t theinter'retati"n %a"rin it/ alidity.;) (itati"n "-itted).

22 $''ellee arue/ that her -arriae a/ re"ni9ed in $ri9"na 'ri"r t" the 1 *84 a-end-ent/and bea-e, in her a/e, a /ub/tantiely e/ted riht. She %urther arue/ that i% e "n/true the 1a-end-ent/ t" ta?e aay thi/ e/ted riht, $..S. = 25&112($) run/ a%"ul "% $ri9"na:/ 'r"hibiti"n aain/tretr"atie lei/lati"n. N"r the %"ll"in rea/"n/, e aree. Beau/e an alternatie "n/truti"n i/

aailable t" u/, e ad"'t that "n/truti"n.

.

23 6n 18, hen the 'artie/ -"ed t" $ri9"na, they had a -arriae that a/ alidly re"ni9ed inCirinia. Seti"n 25&112($) e#'re//ly 'r"ided that -arriae/ alid in an"ther /tate ere alid here. Dhe"nly /tatut"ry e#e'ti"n/ "urred hen re/ident/ "% thi/ /tate le%t $ri9"na t" "ntrat a -arriae'r"hibited in $ri9"na ith the intent "% returnin. $..S. = 25&112(B), (!)< see In re &ortenson's 0state, 83$ri9. 87, 0, 31 P.2d 110, 1107 (157) (in"lin re/ident/ "% thi/ /tate and h"ldin that ;Aa -arriaedelared "id by "ur /tatute ann"t be 'uri%ied "r -ade alid by -erely /te''in ar"// the /tate line %"r'ur'"/e/ "% /"le-ni9ati"n;). Dhe 1 a-end-ent/ n" delare a''ellee:/ -arriae ;"id.; $..S. = 25&112($). Gur a/e/ h"ld that a ;"id; -arriae ;/hall hae n" %"re and e%%et %"r any 'ur'"/e ithin the/tate "% $ri9"na.; In re &ortenson's 0state, 83 $ri9. at 0, 31 P.2d at 1107. Dhu/, i% e a''ly the 'lain

lanuae "% the 1 a-end-ent/ t" the 'ri"r /tatut"ry /he-e, thi/ lei/lati"n ha/ a retr"atie e%%et"n a''ellee:/ -arriae by delarin that it ha/ ;n" %"re and e%%et %"r any 'ur'"/e.; Id.

24 M"t all retr"atie lei/lati"n, h"eer, i/ 'r"hibited. ;$ /tatute that i/ -erely 'r"edural -ay bea''lied retr"atiely.; San Carlos Apac!e ri#e v. Superior Court 1Bolton2, 13 $ri9. 15, 205, 15, 72P.2d 17, 18 (1) (itati"n "-itted). "eer, "ur /u're-e "urt ha/ -ade it 'lain that ;lei/lati"n-ay n"t di/turb vested /ub/tantie riht/ by retr"atiely hanin the la that a''lie/ t" "-'letedeent/.; Id. (itati"n "-itted) (e-'ha/i/ added)< Hall v. A.3.. 4reig!t S$s., Inc., 14 $ri9. 130, 140, 717P.2d 434, 444 (18) (;ALei/lati"n -ay n"t retr"atiely di/turb e/ted riht/.;)< State v. &urra$, 14$ri9. 373, 375, , 82 P.2d 1287, 128 (1) (;ADhe lei/lature... K-ay n"t di/turb e/ted /ub/tantieriht/.:;) (Fu"tin San Carlos, 13 $ri9. at 205, 72 P.2d at 18). A7

25 $''ellant arue/ that the 1 a-end-ent/ are 'r"edural "nly, n"t /ub/tantie. >e re@et thi/aru-ent. 6% ien the "n/truti"n a''ellant ure/, a -arriae that a/ 'rei"u/ly re"ni9ed "n behal%"% $ri9"na re/ident/ "% /een year/: durati"n "uld be ta?en aay %r"- the-. Dhe /tatut"ry rant "%-arriae i/ -"re than a 'r"edural riht. 6t "e/ t" the bedr"? "% "ur /"iety. Supra 18. +arriae i/ a/ub/tantie riht. $/ a/ the a/e in Hall, ;Athe ritial inFuiry in retr"atiity analy/i/ Ahere i/ n"t

hether a /tatute a%%et/ a su#stantive riht but hether a /tatute a%%et/ a vested riht.; 14 $ri9. at 13,717 P.2d at 443 (/e"nd e-'ha/i/ in "riinal). Dhe $ri9"na Su're-e !"urt "ntinuedE

Dhu/, the i-'liit -eanin "% the /tate-ent ;/ub/tantie riht/ -ay n"t be retr"atiely i-'aired; i/;/ub/tantie riht/ -ay n"t be i-'aired once vested.;

Id. at 13&40, 717 P.2d at 443&44. Dhe inFuiry %"r u/, then, i/ hether a''ellee had a vested riht in her-arriae.


4/27

2 eter-inin hether that riht (the re"niti"n "% "ne:/ -arriae) ha/ e/ted d"e/ n"t %it neatly int""ur @uri/'rudene "nernin e/ted riht/. A8 Dhe lanuae "% *85 the la in thi/ area deal/ 'ri-arily

ith propert$ riht/. See Aranda v. Indus. Comm'n, 18 $ri9. 47, 11 P.3d 100 (2000) ("r?er/:"-'en/ati"n bene%it/)< San Carlos, 13 $ri9. 15, 72 P.2d 17 (ater riht/)< &urra$, 14 $ri9. 373,82 P.2d 1287 ('ar"le eliibility re/triti"n/)< -'Brien v. 0sc!er, 204 $ri9. 45, 5 P.3d 107 ($''.2003)(a-end-ent t" /tatute 'r"/ribin @ail ter- a%ter at "--itted)< &e5ia v. Indus. Comm'n, 202 $ri9. 31, 3P.3d 1135 ($''.2002) (te-'"rary t"tal di/ability "-'en/ati"n bene%it/)< In re &arriage o% amirez, 173$ri9. 135, 840 P.2d 311 ($''.12) (riht t" hild /u''"rt 'ay-ent/ e/t/ a/ 'ay-ent/ be"-e due)< St.

6osep!'s Hosp. and &ed. Ctr. v. Superior Court 1Sc!neider2, 14 $ri9. 454, 73 P.2d 1121 ($''.10)

(/tatut"rily ranted riht t" reie 'anel e/ted u'"n %ilin "% ati"n)< God#e$ v. oosevelt Sc!. (ist. 3o.77, 131 $ri9. 13, 38 P.2d 235 ($''.181) (au-ulated 'aid /i? leae)e e-'ha/i9e that e, a/ a "urt, d" n"t at t" create a riht. Pri"r t" 1, the $ri9"na legislature /'ei%ially /tated that ;A-arriae/ alid by the la/ "% the 'lae here "ntrated are alid in thi/ /tate.;

$ri9"na !"de "% 13, = 3&10 (urrently "di%ied a/ $..S. = 25&112($)). >hen the 'artie/ -"ed %r"-Cirinia t" *8 $ri9"na in 18, their -arriae a/ alid under t!e laws o% t!e state o% Arizona, n"t/i-'ly under Cirinia la. Seti"n/ 25&112(B) and (!) "nly 'reluded -arriae/ alidly 'er%"r-ed "ut "%/tate hen th"/e -arriae/ ere underta?en ;by 'artie/ intendin at the ti-e t" re/ide in thi/ /tate; "r;'artie/ re/idin in thi/ /tate; h" /"uht t" ;eade the la/ "% thi/ /tate relatin t" -arriae by "in t"an"ther /tate "r "untry %"r /"le-ni9ati"n "% the -arriae.; $..S. == 25&112(B), (!).

30 Horton e#'re//ly re"ni9ed the lei/lature:/ ability t" delare -arriae/ ;"id; that ere ;alidA inthe /tate here elebrated hether A1 "ntrated beteen 'artie/ h" ere in ""d %aith d"-iiled in

the /tate here the ere-"ny a/ 'er%"r-ed, "r A2 beteen 'artie/ h", bein d"-iiled in thi/ /tate,le%t the /tate %"r the 'ur'"/e "% a"idin it/ /tatute/ and -arried.; 22 $ri9. at 45, 18 P. at 1107. Dhelei/lature h"/e t" delare the /e"nd ate"ry that Horton identi%ied (hen $ri9"na re/ident/ /"uht t"eade the la) ;"id; 'ri"r t" 1. Dhi/ i/ re're/ented by $..S. = 25&112(B) and (!). Dhe lei/lature didn"t delare the %ir/t ate"ry (-arriae/ entered int" that ere "ntrary t" $ri9"na:/ la but n"t"ntrated by $ri9"na re/ident/ ith the intent t" eade $ri9"na:/ la) ;"id; until the 1 a-end-ent/.$''ellee learly %all/ int" the %ir/t ate"ry, %"r hih the lei/lature h"/e n"t t" at until 1.

31 Dhu/, the /tatut"ry /he-e in 'lae in 18, hen the 'artie/ -"ed here, e#'re//ly re"ni9eda''ellee:/ -arriae. Dhe e#e'ti"n/ identi%ied in = 25&112(B) and (!) are ina''liable a/ neither a''elleen"r a''ellant /"uht t" eade $ri9"na la hen they -arried in Cirinia. Dhey ere alidly -arried inCirinia be%"re "-in t" $ri9"na. Dhe %at that $ri9"na "uld hae 'r"hibited their -arriae, had theyre/ided here, i/ "% n" "n/eFuene a/ the lei/lature (u' until the 1 a-end-ent/) e#'re//ly h"/e t"

re"ni9e their alid "ut&"%&/tate -arriae.

32 $"rdinly, in the "nte#t "% a lai- "% a ;"id; -arriae under = 25&112($), e h"ld that "ne:/ rihtt" hae an "ut&"%&/tate -arriae dee-ed alid in the /tate "% $ri9"na e/t/ u'"n the %"ll"in "nditi"n/E(1) the -arriae a/ alid in the /tate here "ntrated< (2) the 'artie/ t" the -arriae ere re/ident/ "%$ri9"na 'ri"r t" the enat-ent "% the a-end-ent t" = 25&112($) "n July 20, 1< and (3) that durin thi/'eri"d "% re/ideny in $ri9"na their -arriae a/ alidly re"ni9ed under the /tatut"ry /he-e then in'lae in $ri9"na. A

*.

33 By "n/truin the /tatute t" a''ly 'r"/'etiely "nly, e har-"ni9e the 1 a-end-ent/ ith$ri9"na:/ "n/tituti"nal 'r"hibiti"n/ aain/t retr"atie lei/lati"n. >e d" n"t i-'air the lei/lature:/e#'re//ly re"ni9ed ability t" delare a/ ;"id; -arriae/ re"ni9ed a/ alid in "ther @uri/diti"n/,Horton, 22 $ri9. at 45, 18 P. at 1107, so long as the 'arty a//ertin the riht t" the alid "ut&"%&/tate-arriae did n"t hae a e/ted riht a/ de%ined herein. $''ellant a//ert/ that e /h"uld "n/true theter- ;"id; t" a''ly t" all -arriae/ e#i/tin in the /tate "% $ri9"na at the ti-e "% the 1 a-end-ent/.>e aree thi/ i/ a 'lau/ible "n/truti"n, a/ a ;"id; -arriae ha/ been "n/trued t" -ean that the-arriae ;/hall hae n" %"re and e%%et %"r any 'ur'"/e ithin the State "% $ri9"na.; In re &ortenson's0state, 83 $ri9. at 0, 31 P.2d at 1107. "eer, a/ e hae di/u//ed ab"e, iin /uh a readinreate/ a /ini%iant "n/tituti"nal "nern.

34 Nurther, $..S. = 1&244 (2000) e#'re//ly 'r"ide/ that ;An" /tatute i/ retr"atie unle// e#'re//lydelared therein.; >e *87 an ie e%%et t" the lei/lature:/ u/e "% the "rd ;"id; in the 1a-end-ent/ by a''lyin that ter- t" e#lude e/ted riht/ in e#i/tin -arriae/ a/ e hae de/ribedthe-. ad the lei/lature h"/en t" nulli%y e#i/tin -arriae/ (thu/ hain the retr"atie e%%etde/ribed) it "uld hae e#'re//ly /tated /". 6t did n"t.


5/27

35 $"rdinly, e an ie leiti-ate -eanin t" the ter- ;"id; in the 1 a-end-ent/ by a''lyinit t" -arriae/ %r"- "ther @uri/diti"n/ in hih the 'artie/ had n" e/ted riht t" hae their -arriaere"ni9ed in $ri9"na. $/ t" the/e -arriae/, the u/e "% the ter- ;"id; a''lie/ and -ean/ that /uh a-arriae ;/hall hae n" %"re and e%%et %"r any 'ur'"/e ithin the State "% $ri9"na.; In re &ortenson's0state, 83 $ri9. at 0, 31 P.2d at 1107. By "n/truin the ter- ;"id; t" a''ly t" -arriae/ here riht/in $ri9"na hae n"t ;e/ted,; e ad"'t an ;alternate "n/truti"nA ; that ;a"id/ "n/tituti"nal di%%iulty;a/ reFuired by "ur la. Sla$ton, 1 $ri9. at 2, 800 P.2d at 55.

I'.

3 N"r the rea/"n/ /et %"rth ab"e, and th"/e in the /e'arately %iled -e-"randu- dei/i"n, e a%%ir-the @ud-ent "% the trial "urt.

PGDL, P.J. and DG+PSGM, J., "nurrin.


6/27

2 A.*.($ 90 200/

802 %..1.2$ 47

3O% 5A%6A%, In$i!i$)all" an$ a# e)tor of %I5 CO%RA* 1PICA%*5R, Al#o no;n a#

%A5 1PICA%*5R, *eea#e$, Re#on$ent, !. 1"-en:/ Bar $//"iati"n, a-iu/ uriae (@"inin in brie% "% $//"iati"n "%

the Bar "% the !ity "% Me "r?).

+arilyn J. Nl""d, Me "r? !ity, %"r Me "r? !"unty Layer/: $//"iati"n, a-iu/ uriae (@"inin in brie%

"% $//"iati"n "% the Bar "% the !ity "% Me "r?).

Patri? !. G:eilly, Bu%%al", %"r $-erian $ade-y "% +atri-"nial Layer/, a-iu/ uriae (@"inin in brie%

"% $//"iati"n "% the Bar "% the !ity "% Me "r?).

. +6LL, J.P., and S!+6D, J., "nur ith L6NSGM, J.E N6S and !$M, JJ., di//ent and "te

t" a%%ir- the "rder in a /e'arate "'ini"n by N6S, J.

2 A.*.($ &&&B

OPI%IO% O>


7/27

relati"n/hi' t" di%%erent /e# "u'le/ i/ n"t "%%en/ie t" the Fual Pr"teti"n !lau/e "% either the %ederal "r

/tate "n/tituti"n/. 6n Baker v 3elson (21 +inn. 310, 11 M.>.2d 185 A171), the Su're-e !"urt "%

+inne/"ta held that the denial "% -arital /tatu/ t" /a-e&/e# "u'le/ did n"t i"late the N"urteenth

$-end-ent "% the Inited State/ !"n/tituti"n. Dhe Inited State/ Su're-e !"urt re%u/ed t" reie that

re/ult (see Baker v 3elson, 40 I.S. 810 A172). Dhe 'lainti%% herein ann"t -eet hi/ burden "% 'r"in

the /tatute un"n/tituti"nal and d"e/ n"t re%er thi/ !"urt t" any bindin "r een 'er/ua/ie auth"rity that

di-ini/he/ the i-'"rt "% the Baker 'reedent.

Gn the "ntrary, i//ue/ "nernin the riht/ "% /a-e&/e# "u'le/ hae been be%"re the Inited State/

Su're-e !"urt "n nu-er"u/ "a/i"n/ /ine Baker and, t" date, n" @u/tie "% that !"urt ha/ eer

indiated that the h"ldin in Baker i/ /u/'et. $lth"uh in "awrence v e+as (53 I.S. 558 A2003) the

Su're-e !"urt ruled that la/ ri-inali9in atiity enaed in by /a-e&/e# "u'le/ and '"tentially

ader/ely a%%etin their liberty intere/t/ "uld n"t ith/tand "n/tituti"nal /rutiny, eery @u/tie "% that

!"urt e#'re//ed an indiati"n that e#lu/i"n "% -arital riht/ t" /a-e&/e# "u'le/ did 'r"-"te a

leiti-ate /tate intere/t. Ju/tie/ Salia, Dh"-a/, and ehnFui/t "nluded that di/a''r"bati"n "%

h"-"/e#ual "ndut i/ a /u%%iient ba/i/ %"r irtually any la ba/ed "n la//i%iati"n "% /uh "ndut. Dhe

-a@"rity "'ini"n "% Ju/tie/ ennedy, Steen/, in/bur, S"uter, and Breyer delined t" a''ly an eFual

'r"teti"n analy/i/ and n"nethele// e#'re//ly n"ted that the h"ldin (ba/ed "n the 'enu-bra "% 'riay

deried %r"- Griswold v Connecticut, 381 I.S. 47 A15) did n"t in"le "r reFuire the "ern-ent t"

ie %"r-al re"niti"n t" any relati"n/hi' that h"-"/e#ual/

2 A.*.($ 94B

i/h t" enter (see "awrence v e+as, supra at 578). Ju/tie G:!"nn"r, in her "nurrin "'ini"n ba/ed "n

an eFual 'r"teti"n analy/i/, /'ei%ially e#luded -arriae %r"- the i-'"rt "% her "nlu/i"n/, /tatin

/i-'ly ;"ther rea/"n/ e#i/t t" 'r"-"te the in/tituti"n "% -arriae bey"nd -ere -"ral di/a''r"al "% an

e#luded r"u'; ("awrence v e+as, supra at 585).

Si-ilarly, thi/ !"urt, in rulin "n the ery /a-e i//ue in &atter o% Cooper (187 $..2d 128 A13, appeal

dismissed 82 M..2d 801 A13) n"t "nly held that the ter- ;/uriin /'"u/e; did n"t inlude /a-e&/e#

li%e 'artner/, but e#'re//ly /tated a/ %"ll"/E ;Ba/ed "n the/e auth"ritie/ Ainludin Baker, supra, e

aree ith $tin Surr"ate Pau/ed:/ "nlu/i"n that K'ur'"rted Ah"-"/e#ual -arriae/ d" n"t ie ri/e

t" any riht/ . . . 'ur/uant t" . . . PDL 5&1.1 Aand that I1R, 3. $i##enting/.

Dhe -a@"rity:/ %"re%ul de%en/e "% the Lei/lature:/ 'rer"atie t" de%ine hat "n/titute/ a -arriae in

Me "r? /ee-/ t" -e t" -i// the '"int. Dhi/ a/e i/ n"t ab"ut -arriae. Dhe 'lainti%% d"e/ n"t lai- t"

hae been -arried t" the deedent, and learly he a/ n"t, either under the la/ "% Me "r? "r in the

eye/ "% Cer-"nt.

>hat thi/ a/e i/ ab"ut i/ the "'erati"n "% a /inle /tatute Me "r?:/ r"n%ul death /tatute that

"ntr"l/ ae// t" the "urt/ %"r th"/e /ee?in "-'en/ati"n %"r the l"// "% a 'euniary

2 A.*.($ 9B

e#'etany reated and uaranteed by la. Dhe /tatute 'r"ide/ /uh ae// t" a deedent:/ /uriin

/'"u/e beau/e the r"n%ul death "% "ne /'"u/e de'rie/ the "ther "% an e#'etati"n "% "ntinued

/u''"rt hih the deedent "uld hae been "bliated by la t" 'r"ide (see e.g. Na-ily !t $t = 412<

http://www.leagle.com/cite/191%20N.W.2d%20185http://www.leagle.com/cite/191%20N.W.2d%20185http://www.leagle.com/cite/539%20U.S.%20558http://www.leagle.com/cite/539%20U.S.%20558http://www.leagle.com/cite/539%20U.S.%20558http://www.leagle.com/cite/381%20U.S.%20479http://www.leagle.com/cite/381%20U.S.%20479http://www.leagle.com/cite/187%20A.D.2d%20128http://www.leagle.com/cite/187%20A.D.2d%20128http://www.leagle.com/cite/82%20N.Y.2d%20801http://www.leagle.com/cite/82%20N.Y.2d%20801http://www.leagle.com/cite/17%20A.D.3d%2038http://www.leagle.com/cite/17%20A.D.3d%2038http://www.leagle.com/cite/744%20A.2d%20864http://www.leagle.com/cite/744%20A.2d%20864http://www.leagle.com/cite/191%20N.W.2d%20185http://www.leagle.com/cite/539%20U.S.%20558http://www.leagle.com/cite/381%20U.S.%20479http://www.leagle.com/cite/187%20A.D.2d%20128http://www.leagle.com/cite/82%20N.Y.2d%20801http://www.leagle.com/cite/17%20A.D.3d%2038http://www.leagle.com/cite/744%20A.2d%20864


8/27

S"ial Serie/ La = 101 A1).1 But, a/ a''lied here, the /tatute d"e/ n"t 'er-it the /uriin -e-ber "%

a Cer-"nt iil uni"n t" /ue %"r r"n%ul death, een th"uh, li?e /'"u/e/, eah -e-ber "% the iil

uni"n i/ "bliated by la t" /u''"rt the "ther (see Ct Stat $nn, tit 15, = 1204 A). Dhe 'rini'al Fue/ti"n

're/ented, there%"re, i/ hether, a/ it urrently "'erate/ t" 'er-it /'"u/e/ but n"t 'artner/ in a Cer-"nt

iil uni"n t" /ue %"r r"n%ul death, the la dra/ a di/tinti"n beteen /i-ilarly&/ituated 'er/"n/ "n the

ba/i/ "% /e#ual "rientati"n and, i% /", hether the di/tinti"n bear/ /"-e rati"nal relati"n/hi' t" any

"neiable "ern-ental "b@etie 'r"-"ted by the /tatute. Beau/e 6 "nlude that the /tatute a/

a''lied here d"e/ la//i%y /i-ilarly&/ituated 'er/"n/ "n the ba/i/ "% /e#ual "rientati"n ith"ut a rati"nal

relati"n/hi' t" any "neiable "ern-ental 'ur'"/e %urthered by the /tatute, 6 re/'et%ully di//ent.

Dhe %at/ are larely undi/'uted.

Dhe 'lainti%%, J"hn Lanan, and the deedent, Meil !"nrad S'iehandler, -et in 18 and /""n bean an

inti-ate relati"n/hi' that 'r"ed t" be b"th /table and l"n la/tin. Dhirteen year/ later, they ere liin

t"ether in Me "r? hen the Su're-e !"urt "% Cer-"nt i//ued it/ dei/i"n in Baker v State (170 Ct.

14, 744 $.2d 84 A1). Dhe "urt held that the !"--"n Bene%it/ !lau/e "% the Cer-"nt !"n/tituti"n

(see Ct !"n/t, h 6, art 7) r eFuired that /a-e&/e# "u'le/ be ranted the /a-e /tatut"ry bene%it/ and

'r"teti"n/ en@"yed by 'er/"n/ "% the "''"/ite /e# h" h""/e t" -arry, and it "rdered the State t"

%a/hi"n a re-edy t" ahiee that re/ult (see Baker v State, supra, 170 Ct at 17&18, 744 $2d at 87).

$/ the -a@"rity "rretly '"int/ "ut, Cer-"nt:/ Lei/lature re/'"nded by rea%%ir-in the State:/ traditi"nal

ie that ;KA-arriae: -ean/ the leally re"ni9ed uni"n "% "ne -an and "ne "-an; (Ct Stat $nn, tit

15, = 1201 A4). 6t then e/tabli/hed a ne, 'arallel leal /tatu/, alled a iil uni"n, %"r /a-e&/e# "u'le/

n"t eliible t" -arry under Cer-"nt la (Ct

2 A.*.($ 97B

Stat $nn, tit 15, = 1202). Dhe ne lei/lati"n 're/ribed h" a iil uni"n "uld be e/tabli/hed (see id.),

and h" it "uld be di//"led (see Ct Stat $nn, tit 15, = 120). $nd it 'r"ided that th"/e h" e/tabli/h a

iil uni"n "uld hae the /a-e bene%it/, 'r"teti"n/, and re/'"n/ibilitie/ a/ -arried "u'le/ had in

Cer-"nt (see Ct Stat $nn, tit 15, = 1204 Ae), inludin, i-'"rtantly, the re/'"n/ibility ;%"r the /u''"rt "%

"ne an"ther t" the /a-e deree and in the /a-e -anner a/ 're/ribed under la %"r -arried 'er/"n/;

(Ct Stat $nn, tit 15, = 1204 A).2

6n M"e-ber 2000, a''r"#i-ately %"ur -"nth/ a%ter Cer-"nt:/ iil uni"n la ent int" e%%et, the 'lainti%%

and the deedent traeled t" Cer-"nt ith /"-e 40 %a-ily -e-ber/ and %riend/ and /"le-ni9ed a iil

uni"n in a ere-"ny 'er%"r-ed by a @u/tie "% the 'eae in a"rdane ith Cer-"nt la. $%ter the

ere-"ny, the 'lainti%% and the deedent returned t" their h"-e, and t" their l ie/, in Me "r?.

Gn Nebruary 12, 2002, the deedent a/ in@ured in -idt"n +anhattan by a hit&and&run drier. e a/

ad-itted t" St. Cinent:/ "/'ital "% Me "r? (hereina%ter St. Cinent:/) here he underent t"

/urerie/ t" addre// "'en %rature/ t" hi/ le%t tibia and %ibula. $t %ir/t, the 'lainti%% a/ t"ld by h"/'ital /ta%%

that the /urerie/ had been /ue//%ul and that the deedent "uld be di/hared. Gn the -"rnin "%

Nebruary 15, 2002, h"eer, the 'lainti%% reeied a tele'h"ne all %r"- a 'hy/iian at St. Cinent:/

in%"r-in hi- that the deedent had died.

Dhe 'lainti%% /ub/eFuently "--ened thi/ ati"n aain/t St. Cinent:/, b"th "n hi/ "n behal% and a/

e#eut"r "% the deedent:/ e/tate. $/ e#eut"r, he /"uht da-ae/, inter alia, %"r -edial -al'ratie

and la? "% in%"r-ed "n/ent. Gn hi/ "n behal%, he /"uht da-ae/ %"r r"n%ul death.

Dhe de%endant St. Cinent:/ -"ed, inter alia, t" di/-i// the r"n%ul death lai- "n the r"und that the

'lainti%% a/ n"t the deedent:/ di/tributee and there%"re "uld n"t re"er da-ae/ %"r hi/ r"n%ul

death. Dhe 'lainti%% r"//&-"ed %"r /u--ary @ud-ent "n the i//ue "% hi/ /tandin t" a//ert the

r"n%ul death lai-. e arued that hi/ /tatu/ under Cer-"nt:/ iil uni"n la entitled hi- t" /ue a/ the

deedent:/ /uriin /'"u/e.

6n a detailed "'ini"n, the Su're-e !"urt denied St. Cinent:/ -"ti"n and ranted the 'lainti%%:/ r"//

-"ti"n. Dhe "urt %"und

2 A.*.($ 98B

that, beau/e the 'lainti%% Fuali%ied a/ a /uriin /'"u/e under the la/ "% Cer-"nt, he a/ inluded

ithin the -eanin "% ;/'"u/e; a/ that ter- i/ u/ed in Me "r?:/ /tate/, P"er/ and Dru/t/ La and

there%"re had /tandin t" re"er %"r the r"n%ul death "% the deedent (see "angan v St. Vincent's

Hosp. o% 3.;., 1 +i/.2d 440 A2003). Dhi/ a''eal %"ll"ed.3

Me "r?:/ /tate/, P"er/ and Dru/t/ La (hereina%ter PDL) all"/ an ati"n %"r the r"n%ul death "%

any indiidual h" i/ /uried by "ne "r -"re di/tributee/, ith the re"ery t" 'r"ide "-'en/ati"n %"r

e"n"-i in@urie/ /u%%ered a/ a re/ult "% the death (see PDL 5&4.1 A1< 5&4.4 Aa). $ di/tributee i/ any

'er/"n h" -ay be entitled under la t" ta?e "r /hare in the deedent:/ 'r"'erty n"t di/'"/ed "% by ill

(see PDL 1&2.5, 4&1.1). i/tributee/ inlude ertain "% the deedent:/ bl""d relatie/, hi/ "r her ad"'ted

hildren, and, unle// di/Fuali%ied, hi/ "r her ;/'"u/e; (see PDL 4&1.1, 5&1.2).

Dhe -a@"rity rite/ that it "uld hae been in"neiable t" the dra%ter/ "% the r"n%ul death /tatute that

the /uriin /'"u/e "uld be "% the /a-e /e# a/ the deedent. 6 aree.

$lth"uh the ter- ;/'"u/e; i/ n"t de%ined in the PDL, it/ u/e in /eeral 'r"i/i"n/ in that ha'ter leae/

n" d"ubt that it a/ intended t" inlude "nly th"/e 'er/"n/ @"ined t"ether in -arriae (see aum v

estaurant Assoc., 252 $..2d 3, 370 A18). N"r e#a-'le, b"th /eti"n/ 5&1.1 (b) (1) and 5&1.1&$ (b)

(1) "% the PDL e#'liitly re%er t" ;the date "% the -arriae; in deter-inin hether a tran/ati"n

bene%ittin the ;/'"u/e; "n/titute/ a te/ta-entary /ub/titute. Si-ilarly, b"th PDL 5&1.1 (%) (3) ($) and 5&

1.1&$ (e) (3) ($) 'r"ide, i nter alia, that the aier "r relea/e "% the riht "% eleti"n i/ e%%etie, hether

e#euted ;be%"re "r a%ter the -arriae "% the /'"u/e/.; $nd, 'erha'/ -"/t /ini%iantly, PDL 5&1.2 (a)

(1) and (2) 'r"ide that, ithin the -eanin and %"r the 'ur'"/e/ "% the r"n%ul death /tatute, ;Aa

hu/band "r i%e i/ a /uriin /'"u/e; unle//, inter alia, ;Aa %inal deree "r @ud-ent "% di"re, "%

annul-ent "r delarin the nullity "% a -arriae . . . a/ in e%%et hen the deea/ed /'"u/e died,; "r

;Athe -arriae a/ "id a/ ine/tu"u/ . . ., bia-"u/ . . ., "r a 'r"hibited re-arriae . . . .;

2 A.*.($ 99B

Sini%iantly, alth"uh the PDL ha/ a nu-ber "% di%%erent /tatut"ry /"ure/, the/e 'artiular /eti"n/

PDL 1&2.5, 4&1.1, 5&1.1, 5&1.2 and 5&4.1 all /hare a "--"n 'redee//"r in the eedent /tate La

http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid1http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid1http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid1http://www.leagle.com/cite/744%20A.2d%20864http://www.leagle.com/cite/744%20A.2d%20864http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid2http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid2http://www.leagle.com/cite/196%20Misc.2d%20440http://www.leagle.com/cite/196%20Misc.2d%20440http://www.leagle.com/cite/196%20Misc.2d%20440http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid3http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid3http://www.leagle.com/cite/252%20A.D.2d%20369http://www.leagle.com/cite/252%20A.D.2d%20369http://www.leagle.com/cite/252%20A.D.2d%20369http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid1http://www.leagle.com/cite/744%20A.2d%20864http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid2http://www.leagle.com/cite/196%20Misc.2d%20440http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid3http://www.leagle.com/cite/252%20A.D.2d%20369


9/27

(see PDL 14&2.1), and there%"re all %"r a "n/i/tent readin "% the "rd ;/'"u/e.; !learly, then, the

dra%ter/ "% the/e PDL /eti"n/ "nte-'lated that the "rd ;/'"u/e; "uld a''ly "nly t" a 'er/"n h"

had been -arried t" the deedent at the ti-e "% death, and /ine the n"ti"n "% /a-e&/e# -arriae a/

larely un?n"n at the ti-e, the -a@"rity i/ "rret in /ayin that it "uld hae been in"neiable t" the

dra%ter/ that the deedent and the /uriin /'"u/e "uld be "% the /a-e /e#.

6ndeed, een in -"re reent year/, alth"uh Me "r?:/ Lei/lature ha/ 'r"ided /a-e&/e# "u'le/ ith

ertain riht/ and bene%it/, it ha/ n"t /een %it t" inlude the- in the la// "% 'er/"n/ entitled t" a//ert a

r"n%ul death lai-. N"r e#a-'le, in the a?e "% the atta?/ "% Se'te-ber 11, 2001, and -"re than t"

year/ a%ter Cer-"nt e/tabli/hed iil uni"n/, the Lei/lature delared, inter aliaE

that d"-e/ti 'artner/ "% iti-/ "% the terr"ri/t atta?/ are eliible %"r di/tributi"n/ %r"- the %ederal iti-

"-'en/ati"n %und, and the reFuire-ent/ %"r aard/ under the Me "r? State >"rld Drade !enter

elie% Nund and "ther e#i/tin /tate la/, reulati"n/, and e#eutie "rder/ /h"uld uide the %ederal

/'eial -a/ter in deter-inin aard/ and en/urin that the di/tributi"n 'lan "-'en/ate/ /uh d"-e/ti

'artner/ %"r the l"//e/ they /u/tained (L 2002, h 73, = 1).

Sub/eFuently, the Lei/lature enated >"r?er/: !"-'en/ati"n La = 4 %"r the /'ei%i 'ur'"/e "%

'r"idin death bene%it/ t" d"-e/ti 'artner/ "% th"/e ?ill ed "n Se'te-ber 11, 2001 (see L 2002, h 47,

= 1). 6ndeed, the r"n%ul death /tatute it/el% a/ a-ended t" lenthen the li-itati"n/ 'eri"d %"r the

"--ene-ent "% ati"n/ "n behal% "% deedent/ h"/e death/ ere au/ed by the Se'te-ber 11th

terr"ri/t atta?/ (see PDL 5&4.1, a/ a-ended by L 2003, h 114, = 1). et the Lei/lature did n"t /ee %it

t" rant un-arried d"-e/ti 'artner/ the riht t" -aintain an ati"n t" re"er da-ae/ %"r r"n%ul

death.

Beau/e the r"n%ul death /tatute i/ in der"ati"n "% the "--"n la, it -u/t be /tritly "n/trued (see

Gonzalez v 3ew ;ork Cit$ Hous. Aut!., 77 M..2d 3, 7 A11). Dhu/, 6 aree ith the -a@"rity that

the ter- ;/'"u/e; a/ u/ed in PDL

2 A.*.($ &00B

4&1.1 i/ li-ited t" th"/e 'er/"n/ h" ere -arried t" a deedent at the ti-e "% death and ann"t,

thr"uh /tatut"ry "n/truti"n, be inter'reted e#'an/iely t" inlude 'er/"n/ li?e the 'lainti%% and the

deedent here h" ere 'artner/ in a Cer-"nt iil uni"n but ere n"t @"ined in -arriae (see &atter o%

Cooper, 187 $..2d 128 A13).

$/ an alternatie, the 'lainti%% atte-'t/ t" in"?e 'rini'le/ "% eFuity t" /eure the riht t" brin thi/

ati"n. elyin "n Brasc!i v Sta!l Assoc. Co. (74 M..2d 201 A18), the 'lainti%% arue/ that, een i% he

d"e/ n"t e#'re//ly %all ithin the -eanin "% ;/'"u/e; a/ u/ed in the PDL, Me "r? i/ neerthele//

b"und by "n/iderati"n/ "% eFuity t" re"ni9e hi/ riht t" re"er %"r the deedent:/ r"n%ul death. 6n

Brasc!i, the !"urt "% $''eal/ a/ alled u'"n t" inter'ret a rent&"ntr"l reulati"n 'r"idin that, u'"n

the death "% a tenant, the landl"rd -ay n"t di/'"//e// ;either the /uriin /'"u/e "% the deea/ed

tenant "r /"-e "ther -e-ber "% the deea/ed tenant:/ %a-ily h" ha/ been lii n ith the tenant; ( id. at

20, Fu"tin M! 2204. Ad). M"tin that rent&"ntr"l la/ -u/t be inter'reted br"adly t" e%%etuate

their 'ur'"/e/ (Brasc!i v Sta!l Assoc. Co., supra at 208), the !"urt held that the ay li%e 'artner "% the

deea/ed tenant "uld, under a''r"'riate iru-/tane/, %all ithin the -eanin "% the "rd ;%a-ily; ( id.

at 211).

Inli?e the n"neiti"n riht at i//ue in Brasc!i, h"eer, the riht t" a//ert a r"n%ul death lai- i/ a

e/ted 'r"'erty riht (see (e"uca v Gallo, 287 $..2d 222, 225 A2001) that d"e/ n"t e#i/t at "--"n

la "r in eFuity. $/ a reature "% /tatute, it -u/t be %"unded "n /tatut"ry auth"rity (see "i%% v Sc!ildkrout,

4 M..2d 22, 32 A180). ene, i% the 'lainti%% d"e/ n"t Fuali%y a/ a ;di/tributee; under the PDL, he

ann"t "theri/e a//ert a r"n%ul death lai- under eneral 'rini'le/ "% eFuity.

Dhe -a@"rity a''ear/ t" "nlude that, /i-'ly beau/e the 'lainti%% and the deedent ere n"t -arried,

;the the"rie/ "% %ull %aith and redit and "-ity hae n" a''liati"n.; 6t i/ ertainly true that the

"n/tituti"nal reFuire-ent "% %ull %aith and redit need n"t be "n/idered here, i% %"r n" "ther rea/"n than

that the 'lainti%% ha/ /'ei%ially di/a"ed reliane "n it.4 But the 'lainti%% and a-ii d" /tr"nly arue

that Me "r? i/

2 A.*.($ &0&B

b"und t" a%%"rd the 'lainti%% the riht t" /ue %"r r"n%ul death beau/e the d"trine "% "-ity reFuire/

re"niti"n "% the ;/'"u/al riht/; he derie/ %r"- the la/ "% Cer-"nt. 6 ann"t aree.

$ /tate i/ neer "blied by "n/iderati"n/ "% "-ity t" /urrender it/ leiti-ate intere/t/ in de%erene t"

an"ther /tate:/ '"liy h"ie/. $/ the !"urt "% $''eal/ ha/ e#'lainedE

Dhe d"trine "% "-ity Ki/ n"t a rule "% la, but "ne "% 'ratie, "neniene and e#'edieny.: 6t d"e/ n"t

"% it/ "n %"re "-'el a 'artiular "ur/e "% ati"n. ather, it i/ an e#'re//i"n "% "ne State:/ entirely

"luntary dei/i"n t" de%er t" the '"liy "% an"ther . . . D"day in Me "r? the deter-inati"n "% hether

e%%et i/ t" be ien %"rein lei/lati"n i/ -ade by "-'arin it t" "ur "n 'ubli '"liy< and "ur '"liy

'reail/ in a/e "% "n%lit (hrlih&B"ber !". Inier/ity "% "u/t"n, 4 M..2d 574, 580 A180

Ainternal Fu"tati"n -ar?/ and itati"n/ "-itted< /ee al/" e "/e Me Jer/ey Dr. ail G'erati"n/, 15

$..2d 42, 44&45 A11).

Me "r? ha/ l"n h"/en, a/ a -atter "% "-ity, t" re"ni9e a -arriae "n/idered alid in the 'lae

here it a/ elebrated, een i% it "uld n"t hae been la%ully entered in thi/ /tate, 'r"ided "nly that

the Lei/lature ha/ n"t e#'re//ly 'r"hibited Me "r?er/ %r"- enterin the 'artiular ?ind "% -arriae,and it/ re"niti"n "uld n"t "theri/e be abh"rrent t" Me "r?:/ 'ubli '"liy (see &atter o% &a$, 305

M.. 48 A153< &oore v Hegeman, 2 M.. 521 A1883< !orp v !orp, 0 M.. 02 A1882< Van Voor!is

v Brintnall, 8 M.. 18 A1881). Dhe /tated 'ur'"/e "% /uh re"niti"n i/ ;t" 'reent the reat

in"neniene and ruelty "% ba/tardi9in the i//ue "% /uh -arriae/, and t" a"id the 'ubli -i/hie%

hih "uld re/ult %r"- the l""/e /tate in hih 'e"'le /" /ituated "uld lie; (Van Voor!is v Brintnall at

2, Fu"tin Haviland v Halstead, 7 Di%% 43, 47 A18).

Dhe 'lainti%% a?n"lede/, a/ he -u/t, that he and the deedent neer entered a -arriae.

Meerthele//, he and a-ii -aintain that the /a-e "n/iderati"n/ "% "-ity -u/t lead Me "r? t"

re"ni9e hi/ Cer-"nt iil uni"n ina/-uh a/ there i/ n"thin t" /ue/t that a iil uni"n "% /a-e&/e#

indiidual/ i/ abh"rrent t" the 'ubli '"liy "% Me "r? (c%. >"r?er/:

http://www.leagle.com/cite/77%20N.Y.2d%20663http://www.leagle.com/cite/77%20N.Y.2d%20663http://www.leagle.com/cite/77%20N.Y.2d%20663http://www.leagle.com/cite/187%20A.D.2d%20128http://www.leagle.com/cite/187%20A.D.2d%20128http://www.leagle.com/cite/74%20N.Y.2d%20201http://www.leagle.com/cite/287%20A.D.2d%20222http://www.leagle.com/cite/287%20A.D.2d%20222http://www.leagle.com/cite/49%20N.Y.2d%20622http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid4http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid4http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid4http://www.leagle.com/cite/305%20N.Y.%20486http://www.leagle.com/cite/305%20N.Y.%20486http://www.leagle.com/cite/305%20N.Y.%20486http://www.leagle.com/cite/305%20N.Y.%20486http://www.leagle.com/cite/77%20N.Y.2d%20663http://www.leagle.com/cite/187%20A.D.2d%20128http://www.leagle.com/cite/74%20N.Y.2d%20201http://www.leagle.com/cite/287%20A.D.2d%20222http://www.leagle.com/cite/49%20N.Y.2d%20622http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid4http://www.leagle.com/cite/305%20N.Y.%20486http://www.leagle.com/cite/305%20N.Y.%20486


10/27

2 A.*.($ &02B

!"-'en/ati"n La = 4< #eutie La = 21 A1, A2< !iil iht/ La = 40&< 18 M! 421.1 Ah A2<

&atter o% 6aco#, 8 M..2d 51, 2 A15< Brasc!i v Sta!l Assoc. Co., supra< 8eople v -no%re, 51

M..2d 47 A180, cert denied 451 I.S. 87 A181). But re"niti"n "% a iil /tatu/ alidly reated

"ut/ide "% Me "r? d"e/ n"t nee//arily i-'ly that thi/ /tate ill ie e%%et t" all "% the leal inident/ "%

that /tatu/ "n%erred by the %"rein @uri/diti"n that reated it. >here th"/e inident/ "n%lit ith Me

"r? la, "ur "urt/ ill enerally deide hether t" ie the- e%%et by l""?in t" traditi"nal h"ie&"%&

la 'rini'le/.

6n &atter o% C!ase (127 $..2d 415 A187), %"r e#a-'le, hildren ad"'ted under the la/ "% h"de

6/land but liin in Me "r? /"uht t" inherit %r"- their natural 'arent/. Inder Me "r? la, a hild:/

riht t" inherit %r"- hi/ "r her natural 'arent/ i/ e#tinui/hed u'"n ad"'ti"n (see "-e/ti elati"n/ La

= 117 A1 Ab) but the /a-e i/ n"t true under the la/ "% h"de 6/land (see 6 en La/ = 15&7&17).

ulin that the hildren "uld n"t inherit %r"- their natural 'arent/, the !"urt r"teE

>hile the 'artie/ aree that Me "r?, by the l a "% "-ity, -u/t re"ni9e Athe hildren:/ /tatu/ a/

ad"'ted, een th"uh /uh /tatu/ a/ aFuired under the la/ "% h"de 6/land . . . , they di/aree

"nernin hih State:/ la "ntr"l/ the ad@udiati"n "% Athe hildren:/ riht/ a/ ad"'ted hildren. . .

en here a /tatu/ reated in an"ther @uri/diti"n i/ re"ni9ed by a "urt "% thi/ State, all "% the

inident/ hih the "ther @uri/diti"n attahe/ t" /uh /tatu/ need n"t be re"ni9ed . . . ADhe riht/ "%

Athe hildren t" inherit -u/t be deter-ined 'ur/uant t" Me "r? la. Suh re/ult i/ n"t un%air here /ine

h"de 6/land ha/ n" "ntat/ ith thi/ a/e "ther than the %at that the ad"'ti"n deree a/ rendered

there. Gn the "ther hand, Me "r? a/ the d"-iile "% deedent and Me "r? ha/ a /tr"n intere/t in

en%"rin it/ /tatute reardin the inheritane riht/ "% ad"'ted hildren. (+atter "% !ha/e, /u'ra at 417<

/ee al/" +atter "% !riht"n, 20 M..2d 124 Are%u/in a''liati"n "% L"ui/iana "--unity 'r"'erty la/ t"

"ern riht "% Me "r? d"-iiliary t" her deea/ed hu/band:/ 'er/"nal 'r"'erty l"ated in L"ui/iana.)

2 A.*.($ &0(B

Dhe riht t" -aintain an ati"n %"r r"n%ul death i/ a leal inident "% the /tatu/ "n%erred by Cer-"nt:/

iil uni"n la (see Ct Stat $nn, tit 15, = 1204 Ae A2). Gn the Fue/ti"n "% hether t" ie that inident

e%%et here, 6 %ind it /ini%iant that there i/ n" eidene that the 'lainti%% and the deedent had any

"ntat/ ith Cer-"nt bey"nd the %at that their iil uni"n a/ /"le-ni9ed there. +"re"er, Cer-"nt

enated it/ iil uni"n la in re/'"n/e t" a h"ldin "% it/ Su're-e !"urt that /a-e&/e# "u'le/ ere

entitled t" leal a?n"led-ent ;as Vermonters h" /ee? n"thin -"re, n"r le//, than leal 'r"teti"n

and /eurity %"r their a"ed "--it-ent t" an inti-ate and la/tin hu-an relati"n/hi'; (Baker v State,

supra, 170 Ct at 22, 744 $2d at 88 Ae-'ha/i/ /u''lied), and that, under the !"--"n Bene%it/ !lau/e

"% the /tate:/ !"n/tituti"n, "--itted /a-e&/e# "u'le/ had the riht t" the ;"--"n bene%it/ and

'r"teti"n/ that %l" %r"- -arriae under Vermont law ; (170 Ct at 22, 744 $2d at 887 Ae-'ha/i/

/u''lied). Dhere a/ n"thin either in the !"urt:/ dei/i"n "r in the lei/lati"n it 'r"dued t" /ue/t

that Cer-"nt:/ "nern a/ "ther than 'urely l"al "r that it intended t" a%%et the riht/ "% /a-e&/e#

"u'le/ bey"nd it/ "n b"rder/. Cer-"nt, there%"re, ha/ n" leiti-ate intere/t in deter-inin hether the

'lainti%%, a re/ident "% Me "r?, ha/ the riht t" -aintain a r"n%ul death ati"n aain/t a Me "r?de%endant in "nneti"n ith the death "% an"ther re/ident "% Me "r? "urrin in thi/ /tate. 6ndeed,

durin irtually all "% their lie/ t"ether, the 'lainti%% and the deedent re/ided in Me "r?, and it a/ in

thi/ /tate that the "ndut "-'lained "% "urred and the deedent died. Inder the/e iru-/tane/,

Me "r? ertainly ha/ the -"/t /ini%iant "ntat/ ith the a/e and, there%"re, the /tr"ner intere/t in

a''lyin the 'r"i/i"n/ "% it/ "n r"n%ul death la (see e.g. 8adula v "ilarn 8rops. Corp., 84 M..2d

51, 522 A14< compare ooden v estern 3.;. > 8a. .. Co., 12 M.. 10 A181 Aa''lyin

Penn/ylania:/ r"n%ul death /tatute, hih 'er-itted id" t" /ue in her "n na-e, here death

"urred in Penn/ylania). $"rdinly, li?e the -a@"rity, 6 re@et the "ntenti"n that the d"trine "%

"-ity de-and/ that the 'lainti%% be 'er-itted t" /ue in Me "r? %"r r"n%ul death.

6 turn, then, t" the area "% -y di/aree-ent ith the -a@"rity:/ re/"luti"n "% the a''eal.

>hen a /tatute a%%"rd/ di%%erent treat-ent t" /i-ilarly&/ituated 'er/"n/ "n the ba/i/ "% a "n/tituti"nally

"ni9able harateri/ti, the di/'arity "% treat-ent -u/t, at the lea/t,

2 A.*.($ &04B

bear /"-e rati"nal relati"n/hi' t" a leiti-ate "ern-ental "b@etie 'r"-"ted by the /tatute. $/ the

Inited State/ Su're-e !"urt l"n a" e#'lainedE

6t i/ unnee//ary t" /ay that the KeFual 'r"teti"n "% the la/: reFuired by the N"urteenth $-end-ent

d"e/ n"t 'reent the /tate/ %r"- re/"rtin t" la//i%iati"n %"r the 'ur'"/e/ "% lei/lati"n . . . But the

la//i%iati"n -u/t be rea/"nable, n"t arbitrary, and -u/t re/t u'"n /"-e r"und "% di%%erene hain a%air and /ub/tantial relati"n t" the "b@et "% the lei/lati"n, /" that all 'er/"n/ /i-ilarly iru-/taned

/hall be treated ali?e (N.S. "y/ter uan" !". Cirinia, 253 I.S. 412, 415 A120).

Stated "theri/e, ;Athe Fual Pr"teti"n !lau/e . . . Adenie/ t" State/ the '"er t" lei/late that di%%erent

treat-ent be a"rded t" 'er/"n/ 'laed by a /tatute int" di%%erent la//e/ "n the ba/i/ "% riteria h"lly

unrelated t" the "b@etie "% that /tatute; (eed v eed, 404 I.S. 71, 75&7 A171). Dhe Fue/ti"n t" be

addre//ed, there%"re, i/ hether, "n/iderin the 'ur'"/e and "b@etie "% the r"n%ul death /tatute,

there i/ /"-e r"und "% di%%erene that rati"nally e#'lain/ the di%%erent treat-ent the /tatute a"rd/ t"

/'"u/e/ and 'artner/ in a Cer-"nt iil uni"n (see 0isenstadt v Baird, 405 I.S. 438, 447 A172).

Dhe 'ur'"/e "% the r"n%ul death /tatute i/ ell&de%ined and %ir-ly e/tabli/hed. 6t i/ n"t intended t"

re"-'en/e the /uri"r %"r the l"// "% "-'ani"n/hi' "r "n/"rtiu-, "r %"r the 'ain and anui/h thata"-'anie/ the r"n%ul and une#'eted l"// "% a l"ed "ne. 6t i/ in/tead de/ined /"lely t" -a?e a

ul'able t"rt%ea/"r liable %"r %air and @u/t "-'en/ati"n t" th"/e h", by rea/"n "% their relati"n/hi' t"

the deedent, /u%%er e"n"-i in@ury a/ a re/ult "% the deedent:/ death (see PDL 5&4.3 Aa). $ 'er/"n

/u%%er/ e"n"-i in@ury in thi/ "nte#t hen the death de'rie/ hi- "r her "% a rea/"nable e#'etati"n "%

%uture %inanial a//i/tane "r /u''"rt %r"- the deedent (see Gonzalez v 3ew ;ork Cit$ Hous. Aut!.,

supra at 7< 8arilis v 4einstein, 4 M..2d 84 A180).

Dhe 'lainti%% arue/ that, ith re/'et t" that "b@etie, the r"n%ul death /tatute la//i%ie/ /i-ilarly&

/ituated 'er/"n/ "n the ba/i/ "% their /e#ual "rientati"n. Se#ual "rientati"n i/ a "n/tituti"nally

"ni9able harateri/ti, and there%"re hen lei/lati"n i/ hallened "n the r"und that it la//i%ie/ and

treat/ 'er/"n/ di%%erently "n the ba/i/ "% /e#ual "rientati"n, "urt/ ill ;in/i/t "n ?n"in the relati"n

beteen the la//i%iati"n

http://www.leagle.com/cite/86%20N.Y.2d%20651http://www.leagle.com/cite/86%20N.Y.2d%20651http://www.leagle.com/cite/86%20N.Y.2d%20651http://www.leagle.com/cite/51%20N.Y.2d%20476http://www.leagle.com/cite/51%20N.Y.2d%20476http://www.leagle.com/cite/51%20N.Y.2d%20476http://www.leagle.com/cite/127%20A.D.2d%20415http://www.leagle.com/cite/127%20A.D.2d%20415http://www.leagle.com/cite/127%20A.D.2d%20415http://www.leagle.com/cite/84%20N.Y.2d%20519http://www.leagle.com/cite/84%20N.Y.2d%20519http://www.leagle.com/cite/84%20N.Y.2d%20519http://www.leagle.com/cite/404%20U.S.%2071http://www.leagle.com/cite/404%20U.S.%2071http://www.leagle.com/cite/404%20U.S.%2071http://www.leagle.com/cite/405%20U.S.%20438http://www.leagle.com/cite/49%20N.Y.2d%20984http://www.leagle.com/cite/86%20N.Y.2d%20651http://www.leagle.com/cite/51%20N.Y.2d%20476http://www.leagle.com/cite/51%20N.Y.2d%20476http://www.leagle.com/cite/127%20A.D.2d%20415http://www.leagle.com/cite/84%20N.Y.2d%20519http://www.leagle.com/cite/84%20N.Y.2d%20519http://www.leagle.com/cite/404%20U.S.%2071http://www.leagle.com/cite/405%20U.S.%20438http://www.leagle.com/cite/49%20N.Y.2d%20984


11/27

2 A.*.($ &0B

ad"'ted and the "b@et t" be attained; (omer v 0vans, 517 I.S. 20, 32 A1). Dhi/ a/ /" een

be%"re the Su're-e !"urt re'udiated Bowers v Hardwick (478 I.S. 18 A18), hih u'held /tatute/

ri-inali9in h"-"/e#ual /"d"-y the ery "ndut /"-e /a a/ de%inin the la// (see e.g. 8adula v

e#ster, 822 N.2d 7, 103 A187). 6t ertainly i/ true a%ter the Su're-e !"urt e#'re//ly "erruled

Bowers, re"ni9in that it ;de-eanAed the lie/ "% h"-"/e#ual 'er/"n/; ;a/ n"t "rret hen i t a/

deided, Aand i/ n"t "rret t"day; ("awrence v e+as, 53 I.S. 558, 575, 50 A2003).

$/ t" hether the r"n%ul death /tatute la//i%ie/ "n the ba/i/ "% /e#ual "rientati"n, 6 re"ni9e that, in

18, the $''ellate ii/i"n, Nir/t e'art-ent, "nluded that it did n"t, re@etin an eFual 'r"teti"n

hallene t" the /tatute br"uht by the /uriin -e-ber "% an in%"r-al /a-e&/e# relati"n/hi' n"t

/anti"ned by any /tate (see aum v estaurant Assoc., supra ). Dhe !"urt r"teE

ADhe r"n%ul&death /tatute (PDL 5&4.1), hih, by it/ ter-/ (PDL 1&2.5, 4&1.1, 5&1.2), d"e/ n"t ie

indiidual/ n"t -arried t" the deedent ("ther than ertain bl""d relatie/) a riht t" brin a r"n%ul&

death ati"n, "'erate/ ith"ut reard t" /e#ual "rientati"n, in that un-arried "u'le/ lii n t"ether,

hether heter"/e#ual "r h"-"/e#ual, /i-ilarly la? the riht t" brin a r"n%ul&death ati"n, and, a/

/uh, the /tatute d"e/ n"t di/ri-inate aain/t /a-e&/e# 'artner/ in /'"u/al&ty'e relati"n/hi'/ (id. at

370< /ee al/" Lein e/hia Ini., 272 $..2d 158 A2000).

Leain a/ide the %at that "''"/ite&/e# "u'le/ h" re-ain un-arried d" /" "ut "% h"ie hile /a-e&

/e# "u'le/ hae little h"ie but t" re-ain un-arried, the la//i%iati"n here i/ n"t beteen un-arried

"''"/ite&/e# "u'le/ h" h""/e t" lie t"ether in an in%"r-al arrane-ent, and un-arried /a-e&/e#

"u'le/ h" d" the /a-e. Dhe la//i%iati"n at i//ue here i/ beteen "u'le/ h" enter int" a

"--itted, %"r-ali9ed, and /tate&/anti"ned relati"n/hi' that reFuire/ /tate ati"n t" di//"le and,

'erha'/ -"/t i-'"rtant, -a?e/ eah 'artner leally re/'"n/ible %"r the %inanial /u''"rt "% the "ther. N"r

"''"/ite&/e# "u'le/, "% "ur/e, the relati"n/hi' i/ -arriae, /anti"ned and re"ni9ed by the State

(see e.g. "-e/ti elati"n/ La = 14&a), reFuirin a di"re "r annul-ent t" di//"le (see e.g.

"-e/ti elati"n/ La == 140, 170), and "bliatin eah /'"u/e

2 A.*.($ &0B

t" 'r"ide %"r the /u''"rt "% the "ther (see e.g. Na-ily !t $t = 412< S"ial Serie/ La = 101 A1). $nd,

a/ releant here, the relati"n/hi' %"r /a-e&/e# "u'le/ i/ the Cer-"nt iil uni"n, /anti"ned and

re"ni9ed by the State (see Ct Stat $nn, tit 15, = 1201), reFuirin a "urt 'r"eedin t" di//"le (see Ct

Stat $nn, tit 15 = 120), and "bliatin eah 'arty t" 'r"ide %"r the /u''"rt "% the "ther (see Ct Stat $nn,

tit 15 = 1204 A).5

>ith re/'et t" the "b@etie/ "% the r"n%ul death /tatute, /'"u/e/ and 'artie/ t" a Cer-"nt iil uni"n

/tand in 'rei/ely the /a-e '"/iti"n. +arriae reate/ a leal and en%"reable "bliati"n "% -utual

/u''"rt (see e.g. Na-ily !t $t = 412< S"ial Serie/ La = 101 A1), and there%"re the death "% "ne

/'"u/e au/e/ e"n"-i in@ury t" the "ther beau/e it re/ult/ in the l"// "% an e#'etany "% %uture

/u''"rt reated and uaranteed by la. $nd, in e#atly the /a-e ay, beau/e the /tate&/anti"ned

Cer-"nt iil uni"n ie/ ri/e t" a leal and en%"reable "bliati"n "% -utual /u''"rt (see Ct Stat $nn, tit

15, = 1204 A), the death "% "ne 'arty t" the uni"n au/e/ e"n"-i in@ury t" the /uri"r beau/e it

re/ult/ in the l"// "% an e#'etany "% %uture

2 A.*.($ &07B

/u''"rt al/" reated and uaranteed by la. Beau/e n" /tatute "r auth"ritatie h"ldin in Me "r? n"

'er-it/ "r re"ni9e/ a -arriae e#e't beteen "''"/ite&/e# "u'le/, and beau/e Cer-"nt iil

uni"n/ are "'en "nly t" /a-e&/e# "u'le/ (see Ct Stat $nn, tit 15, = 1202 A2), the "'erati"n here "% Me

"r?:/ r"n%ul death /tatute t" auth"ri9e a 'arty t" a -arriae t" re"er da-ae/ %"r the r"n%ul

death "% hi/ "r her /'"u/e, but n"t t" 'er-it a 'arty t" a Cer-"nt iil uni"n t" re"er da-ae/ %"r the

r"n%ul death "% hi/ "r her 'artner, in e%%et, a%%"rd/ di%%erent treat-ent t" /i-ilarly&/ituated 'er/"n/ "n

the ba/i/ "% /e#ual "rientati"n.

Dhe Fue/ti"n, then, i/ hether there i/ a rati"nal relati"n/hi' beteen that di/'arity "% treat-ent and

/"-e leiti-ate "ern-ental intere/t "r 'ur'"/e (see omer v 0vans, supra at 31&32< Heller v (oe,

50 I.S. 312, 320 A13< Sc!weiker v ilson, 450 I.S. 221, 230 A181< &atter o% Cooper, supra at

134). Grdinarily, hen "n/tituti"nal hallene/ are rai/ed aain/t la/ 'r"hibitin /a-e&/e# -arriae,

"r la/ %a"rin leal -arriae/ "er "--itted relati"n/hi'/ beteen 'er/"n/ "% the /a-e /e#, th"/e

h" de%end the hallened 'r"i/i"n/ d" /" "n the ba/i/ "% the traditi"nal, relii"u/, ultural, and leal

under/tandin that -arriae i/ the uni"n "% "ne -an and "ne "-an, and i/ the 're%erred enir"n-ent

%"r 'r"reati"n and hild&rearin (see e.g. Se$mour v Holcom#, 7 +i/.3d 530 A2005< &atter o% S!ields v

&adigan, 5 +i/.3d 01, 03 A2004< 8eople v Greenlea%, 5 +i/.3d 337 A2004< see also Smelt v Count$

o% -range, 374 N.Su''.2d 81, 880 A2005< "ewis v Harris, 378 M.J.Su'er. 18, 181&182, 875 $.2d 25,

2&27 A2005< &orrison v Sadler, 821 M..2d 15 A6nd 2005< ilson v Ake, 354 N.Su''.2d 128, 1308

A2005< Goodridge v (epartment o% 8u#. Healt!, 440 +a//. 30, 331, 78 M..2d 41, 1 A2003<

Stand!ardt v Superior Ct., 20 $ri9. 27, 285&28, 77 P.3d 451, 40&44 A2003< Baker v State, 170 Ct at

21&21, 744 $2d at 881&882n.$''. 247, 25&20, 522 P.2d 1187, 115

A174< Baker v 3elson, 21 +inn. 310, 11 M.>.2d 185 A171). 6ndeed, "ur "n !"urt ha/ delared that

;Athe in/tituti"n "% -arriae a/ a uni"n "% -an and "-an, uniFuely in"lin the 'r"reati"n andA

rearin "% hildren ithin a

2 A.*.($ &08B

%a-ily, i/ a/ "ld a/ the b""? "% ene/i/; (&atter o% Cooper, supra at 133, Fu"tin Baker v 3elson, supra,

21 +inn at 312, 11 M>2d at 187, appeal dismissed 40 I.S. 810 A172< c%. Skinner v -kla!oma e+

rel. illiamson, 31 I.S. 535, 541 A142). Dhe i//ue, there%"re, i/ hether Me "r?:/ intere/t in

%"/terin traditi"nal -arriae, and in 're%errin it t" any "ther relati"n/hi' beteen unrelated adult/, i/ in

any "neiable ay adaned "r 'r"-"ted by a la that auth"ri9e/ a /uriin /'"u/e, but n"t a

/uriin -e-ber "% a Cer-"nt iil uni"n, t" /ue %"r r"n%ul death. D" a/e/ deided by the Inited

State/ Su're-e !"urt are in/trutie "n thi/ Fue/ti"n, and b"th in"le the riht t" /ue %"r r"n%ul

death.

6n "ev$ v "ouisiana (31 I.S. 8 A18), the Su're-e !"urt /tru? d"n a /tatute hih, beau/e it a/

"n/trued t" auth"ri9e "nly leiti-ate hildren t" -aintain an ati"n %"r the r"n%ul death "% a 'arent,

http://www.leagle.com/cite/517%20U.S.%20620http://www.leagle.com/cite/517%20U.S.%20620http://www.leagle.com/cite/478%20U.S.%20186http://www.leagle.com/cite/478%20U.S.%20186http://www.leagle.com/cite/822%20F.2d%2097http://www.leagle.com/cite/822%20F.2d%2097http://www.leagle.com/cite/822%20F.2d%2097http://www.leagle.com/cite/539%20U.S.%20558http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid5http://www.leagle.com/cite/509%20U.S.%20312http://www.leagle.com/cite/509%20U.S.%20312http://www.leagle.com/cite/450%20U.S.%20221http://www.leagle.com/cite/450%20U.S.%20221http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid6http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid6http://www.leagle.com/cite/7%20Misc.3d%20530http://www.leagle.com/cite/7%20Misc.3d%20530http://www.leagle.com/cite/5%20Misc.3d%20901http://www.leagle.com/cite/5%20Misc.3d%20901http://www.leagle.com/cite/5%20Misc.3d%20337http://www.leagle.com/cite/5%20Misc.3d%20337http://www.leagle.com/cite/5%20Misc.3d%20337http://www.leagle.com/cite/374%20F.Supp.2d%20861http://www.leagle.com/cite/374%20F.Supp.2d%20861http://www.leagle.com/cite/374%20F.Supp.2d%20861http://www.leagle.com/cite/378%20N.J.Super.%20168http://www.leagle.com/cite/378%20N.J.Super.%20168http://www.leagle.com/cite/378%20N.J.Super.%20168http://www.leagle.com/cite/875%20A.2d%20259http://www.leagle.com/cite/875%20A.2d%20259http://www.leagle.com/cite/821%20N.E.2d%2015http://www.leagle.com/cite/354%20F.Supp.2d%201298http://www.leagle.com/cite/354%20F.Supp.2d%201298http://www.leagle.com/cite/354%20F.Supp.2d%201298http://www.leagle.com/cite/440%20Mass.%20309http://www.leagle.com/cite/440%20Mass.%20309http://www.leagle.com/cite/440%20Mass.%20309http://www.leagle.com/cite/206%20Ariz.%20276http://www.leagle.com/cite/206%20Ariz.%20276http://www.leagle.com/cite/77%20P.3d%20451http://www.leagle.com/cite/77%20P.3d%20451http://www.leagle.com/cite/77%20P.3d%20451http://www.leagle.com/cite/486%20F.Supp.%201119http://www.leagle.com/cite/486%20F.Supp.%201119http://www.leagle.com/cite/673%20F.2d%201036http://www.leagle.com/cite/673%20F.2d%201036http://www.leagle.com/cite/673%20F.2d%201036http://www.leagle.com/cite/11%20Wn.App.%20247http://www.leagle.com/cite/11%20Wn.App.%20247http://www.leagle.com/cite/11%20Wn.App.%20247http://www.leagle.com/cite/522%20P.2d%201187http://www.leagle.com/cite/522%20P.2d%201187http://www.leagle.com/cite/522%20P.2d%201187http://www.leagle.com/cite/191%20N.W.2d%20185http://www.leagle.com/cite/191%20N.W.2d%20185http://www.leagle.com/cite/191%20N.W.2d%20185http://www.leagle.com/cite/316%20U.S.%20535http://www.leagle.com/cite/316%20U.S.%20535http://www.leagle.com/cite/391%20U.S.%2068http://www.leagle.com/cite/391%20U.S.%2068http://www.leagle.com/cite/391%20U.S.%2068http://www.leagle.com/cite/517%20U.S.%20620http://www.leagle.com/cite/478%20U.S.%20186http://www.leagle.com/cite/822%20F.2d%2097http://www.leagle.com/cite/539%20U.S.%20558http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid5http://www.leagle.com/cite/509%20U.S.%20312http://www.leagle.com/cite/450%20U.S.%20221http://www.leagle.com/decision/200511525AD3d90_1104.xml/LANGAN%20v.%20ST.%20VINCENT'S%20HOSP.#fid6http://www.leagle.com/cite/7%20Misc.3d%20530http://www.leagle.com/cite/5%20Misc.3d%20901http://www.leagle.com/cite/5%20Misc.3d%20337http://www.leagle.com/cite/374%20F.Supp.2d%20861http://www.leagle.com/cite/378%20N.J.Super.%20168http://www.leagle.com/cite/875%20A.2d%20259http://www.leagle.com/cite/821%20N.E.2d%2015http://www.leagle.com/cite/354%20F.Supp.2d%201298http://www.leagle.com/cite/440%20Mass.%20309http://www.leagle.com/cite/206%20Ariz.%20276http://www.leagle.com/cite/77%20P.3d%20451http://www.leagle.com/cite/486%20F.Supp.%201119http://www.leagle.com/cite/673%20F.2d%201036http://www.leagle.com/cite/11%20Wn.App.%20247http://www.leagle.com/cite/522%20P.2d%201187http://www.leagle.com/cite/191%20N.W.2d%20185http://www.leagle.com/cite/316%20U.S.%20535http://www.leagle.com/cite/391%20U.S.%2068


12/27

'reluded %ie illeiti-ate hildren %r"- /uin %"r the r"n%ul death "% their -"ther. Dhe Su're-e !"urt

r"teE

Leiti-ay "r illeiti-ay "% birth ha/ n" relati"n t" the nature "% the r"n alleedly in%lited "n the

-"ther. Dhe/e hildren, th"uh illeiti-ate, ere de'endent "n her< /he ared %"r the- and nurtured

the-< they ere indeed her/ in the bi"l"ial and in the /'iritual /en/e< in her death they /u%%ered r"n

in the /en/e that any de'endent "uld (id. at 72).

$nd, in the "-'ani"n a/e "% Glona v American Guarantee > "ia#ilit$ Ins. Co. (31 I.S. 73 A18), the

Su're-e !"urt /tru? d"n the /a-e /tatute in/"%ar a/ it a/ "n/trued t" bar a -"ther %r"-

-aintainin an ati"n %"r the r"n%ul death "% her illeiti-ate hild ?illed in an aut"-"bile aident. ere

the !"urt '"intedly "b/eredE

A>e /ee n" '"//ible rati"nal ba/i/ %"r a//u-in that i% the natural -"ther i/ all"ed re"ery %"r the

r"n%ul death "% her illeiti-ate hild, the au/e "% illeiti-ay ill be /ered. 6t "uld, indeed, be

%ar%ethed t" a//u-e that "-en hae illeiti-ate hildren /" that they an be "-'en/ated in da-ae/

%"r their death. $ la hih reate/ an "'en /ea/"n "n illeiti-ate/ in the area "% aut"-"bile aident/

ie/ a ind%all t" t"rt%ea/"r/. But it hardly ha/ a au/al "nneti"n ith the K/in,: hih i/, e are t"ld,

the hi/t"ri rea/"n %"r the reati"n "% the di/ability (id. at 75 Aitati"n "-itted).7

6 re"ni9e that

eFual 'r"teti"n i/ n"t a lien/e %"r "urt/ t" @ude the i/d"-, %airne//, "r l"i "% lei/latie h"ie/. . .

Aand that, in area/ "% /"ial and e"n"-i '"liy, a /tatut"ry la//i%iati"n that neither 'r"eed/ al"n

/u/'et line/ n"r in%rine/ %unda-ental "n/tituti"nal riht/ -u/t be u'held aain/t eFual 'r"teti"n

hallene i% there i/ any rea/"nably "neiable /tate "% %at/ that "uld 'r"ide a rati"nal ba/i/ %"r the

la//i%iati"n (N!! Beah !"--uniati"n/, 6n., 508 I.S. 307, 313 A13< /ee al/" P"rt Je%%er/"n

ealth !are Naility >in, 4 M..2d 284, 20 A1, ert denied 530 I.S. 127 A2000< Bar?lee ealty

!". Pata?i, 30 $..2d 310, 314 A2003).

But @u/t a/ the Su're-e !"urt "uld %ind n" "neiable rati"nal relati"n/hi' beteen any "ern-ental

'ur'"/e 'r"-"ted by a r"n%ul death la and a la//i%iati"n "% r"n%ul death 'lainti%%/ "r iti-/

a"rdin t" their leiti-ay, neither an 6 identi%y any rea/"nably "neiable rati"nal ba/i/ %"r

la//i%yin /i-ilarly&/ituated r"n%ul death 'lainti%%/ "n the ba/i/ "% their /e#ual "rientati"n.

Stated "theri/e, 6 /i-'ly ann"t rea/"nably "neie "% any ay in hih Me "r?:/ intere/t in

%"/terin and 'r"-"tin traditi"nal -arriae i/ %urthered by a la that deter-ine/, ba/ed "n a 'er/"n:/

/e#ual "rientati"n, hether he "r /he -ay hae ae// t" "ur "urt/ t" /ee? "-'en/ati"n %"r the l"// "%

a 'euniary e#'etany reated and uaranteed by la (c%. 8eople v -no%re, supra at 41&42 A/tatute

'er-ittin "n/en/ual /"d"-y beteen -arried 'er/"n/ but bannin /a-e "ndut beteen un-arried

'er/"n/ bear/ n" rati"nal relati"n/hi' t"

2 A.*.($ &&0B

/"iety:/ intere/t in %"/terin and 'r"-"tin -arriae). $nd, tellinly, the -a@"rity:/ re@eti"n "% the eFual

'r"teti"n lai- d"e/ n"t inlude any hint "r /ue/ti"n "% h" 'reentin the 'lainti%% %r"- a//ertin a

r"n%ul death lai- 'r"-"te/ the State:/ intere/t in %"/terin the in/tituti"n "% -arriae, ;thu/ leain

Ait/ "n/tituti"nal analy/i/ in"-'lete; (rim#le v Gordon, 430 I.S. 72, 7 A177). 6ndeed, the "nly

real e%%et "% the -a@"rity:/ '"/iti"n i/ t" 'r"ide a ind%all t" a '"tential t"rt%ea/"r.

$"rdinly, 6 re/'et%ully di//ent and "uld h"ld that the a''liati"n "% Me "r?:/ r"n%ul death

/tatute t" deny the riht "% a /uriin -e-ber "% a Cer-"nt iil uni"n t" -aintain an ati"n t" re"er

da-ae/ %"r the r"n%ul death "% hi/ "r her 'artner i/ in"n/i/tent ith the riht t" eFual 'r"teti"n "%

the la/. 6 "uld %urther h"ld that the 'r"'er re-edy i/ t" e#tend the bene%it "% PDL 5&4.1 t" inlude the

'lainti%% a/ a /uriin -e-ber "% a Cer-"nt iil uni"n (see 8eople v "i#erta, 4 M..2d 152, 170 A184,

cert denied 471 I.S. 1020 A185< see also Cali%ano v estcott, 443 I.S. 7, 8&0 A17). 6n -y

@ud-ent, there%"re, the "rder a''ealed %r"- /h"uld be a%%ir-ed in/"%ar a/ a''ealed %r"-.

Grdered that the "rder i/ r eer/ed in/"%ar a/ a''ealed %r"-, "n the la, ith"ut "/t/ "r di/bur/e-ent/,

that branh "% the -"ti"n hih a/ t" di/-i// the au/e "% ati"n t" re"er da-ae/ %"r r"n%ul

death i/ ranted, the r"// -"ti"n i/ denied, and the au/e "% ati"n t" re"er da-ae/ %"r r"n%ul

death i/ di/-i//ed.

http://www.leagle.com/cite/391%20U.S.%2073http://www.leagle.com/cite/391%20U.S.%2073http://www.leagle.com/cite/391%20U.S.%2073http://www.leagle.com/cite/430%20U.S.%20762http://www.leagle.com/cite/430%20U.S.%20762http://www.leagle.com/cite/64%20N.Y.2d%20152http://www.leagle.com/cite/64%20N.Y.2d%20152http://www.leagle.com/cite/64%20N.Y.2d%20152http://www.leagle.com/cite/443%20U.S.%2076http://www.leagle.com/cite/443%20U.S.%2076http://www.leagle.com/cite/443%20U.S.%2076http://www.leagle.com/cite/391%20U.S.%2073http://www.leagle.com/cite/430%20U.S.%20762http://www.leagle.com/cite/64%20N.Y.2d%20152http://www.leagle.com/cite/443%20U.S.%2076


13/27

409 >.($ &22&

%I


14/27

>hen reiein a di/trit "urt dei/i"n t" e#lude eidene, e reie the di/trit "urt:/ dei/i"n %"r an

abu/e "% di/reti"n. *nited States v. ittgenstein, 13 N.3d 114, 1172 (10th !ir.18). $lth"uh e

reie leal i//ue/ de n"", *nited States v. ?irk, 84 N.2d 112, 113 (10th !ir.10), e -u/t ae't

the "urt:/ %atual %indin/ unle// e "nlude they ere learly err"ne"u/. &anning v. *nited States,

14 N.3d 808, 812 (10th !ir.18). $ %indin "% %at i/ n"t learly err"ne"u/ unle// ;it i/ ith"ut %atual

/u''"rt in the re"rd,; "r unle// the "urt ;a%ter reiein all the eidene, i/ le%t ith a de%inite and %ir-

"niti"n that the di/trit "urt erred.; Id. >e ie the eidene "n a''eal in the liht -"/t %a"rable t"

the di/trit "urt:/ rulin, iin due reard t" the di/trit "urt:/ "''"rtunity t" @ude itne// redibility,

and -u/t u'h"ld any di/trit "urt %indin that i/ 'er-i//ible in liht "% the eidene. Id. at 813.

7

Dhe Inited State/ "ntend/ that the di/trit "urt erred in deter-inin that the Jari/"n/ ere -arried

under traditi"nal Maa@" la, and that een i% -arried, the -arriae a/ a /ha- "r -"ribund and a/

reated /"lely t" a"id te/ti%yin. Dhe /e"nd aru-entthat the -arriae a/ a /ha- "r -"ribund and

a/ reated /"lely t" a"id te/ti%yina/ n"t rai/ed "r arued bel" be%"re the di/trit "urt in either

the "ern-ent:/ "riinal -"ti"n "r -"ti"n t" re"n/ider. $"rdinly, e deline t" addre// it %"r the %ir/t

ti-e "n a''eal. See Singleton v. ul%%, 428 I.S. 10, 120, S.!t. 288, 4 L.d.2d 82 (17)< In re

alker, 5 N.2d 84, 8 (10th !ir.12).3

8

* Gur analy/i/ "% the di/trit "urt:/ "nlu/i"n that the Jari/"n/ had a alid -arriae reFuire/ u/ %ir/t t"

e#a-ine hat la "uld a''ly t" the Fue/ti"n "% a -arriae beteen t" Maa@" tribal -e-ber/ h" lie

"-'letely ithin the b"undarie/ "% the Maa@" e/erati"n. Dhe di/trit "urt i-'liitly ealuated the

-arriae under Maa@" la /tatin thatE ;Dhe !"urt i/ "% the "'ini"n that a -arriae leal in the Maa@"

Mati"n 50 year/ a" i/ /till leal.; 6t i/ "%ten a//u-ed ith"ut di/u//i"n by "urt/ that, in a/e/ ari/in

"n an 6ndian e/erati"n ithin a State, the /ub/tantie la "% the State i/ "ntr"llin in /uh /ituati"n/.

"ouis v. *nited States, 54 N.Su''.2d 1207, 120&10 (.M.+.1). "eer, beau/e the Maa@" Mati"n

retain/ /"erein auth"rity t" reulate d"-e/ti relati"n/ la/, inludin -arriae "% it/ 6ndian /ub@et/,

Maa@" la i/ di/'"/itie a/ t" the alidity "% the -arriae in Fue/ti"n. See &ontana v. *nited States, 450

I.S. 544, 54, 101 S.!t. 1245, 7 L.d.2d 43 (181) (;6ndian tribe/ retain their inherent '"er t"

deter-ine tribal -e-ber/hi', t" reulate d"-e/ti relati"n/ a-"n -e-ber/, and t" 're/ribe rule/ "%

inheritane %"r -e-ber/;)< Santa Clara 8ue#lo v. &artinez, 43 I.S. 4, 55&5, 8 S.!t. 170, 5

L.d.2d 10 (178) (;$lth"uh n" l"ner '"//e//ed "% the %ull attribute/ "% /"ereinty, they re-ain a

/e'arate 'e"'le, ith the '"er "% reulatin their internal and /"ial relati"n/.;)< C!eromia! v. *nited

States, 55 N.Su''.2d 125, 1305 (.M.+.1) (e#a-inin the /"ereinty retained by 6ndian tribe/ and

la "% the 'lae in Nederal D"rt/ !lai-/ $t a/e)


15/27

(re"ni9in di%%iulty in "btainin "ern-ent bene%it/ au/ed by inability t" alidate traditi"nal

-arriae/).

12

6n 144 the Dribal !"unil alidated 'ree#i/tin -arriae/ re"ni9ed by the "--unity een th"uh n"t

a"-'anied by hurh, /tate, "r Dribal u/t"- ere-"ny. See Innu-bered Maa@" Dribal !"unil e/.

a-endin !J&2&40 (July 18, 144)< In re 4rancisco, 1 6ndian La e'. 113< see also Maa@" !"de, tit.

= 8 (the 144 a-end-ent a/ the 'reur/"r t" the urrent = 8). e"ni9in that Maa@" "u'le/ had

"ntinued t" -arry thr"uh unlien/ed traditi"nal ere-"nie/, in 154 the Dribal !"unil ad"'ted a

re/"luti"n alidatin all 're&January 31, 154 Maa@" -arriae/ that ere "ut "% "-'liane ith earlier

Maa@" Dribal !"unil re/"luti"n/ reFuirin a lien/e. aid L. L"ery, (eveloping a ri#al Common "aw

6urisprudence@ !e 3ava5o 0+perience , 7:, 18 $-. 6ndian L.e. 37, 405 (13)< In re

4rancisco, 1 6ndian L. e'. 113< Maa@" Dribal !"unil e/. !N&2&54 (Neb. 11, 154) (("di%ied at

Maa@" !"de tit. , = 1, (177)), a-ended by Maa@" Dribal !"unil e/. !$P&3&80 ($'r. 30, 180)). 6n

157, the Dribal !"unil, re"ni9in the %reFuent nee//ity "% d"u-entary 'r""% "% -arriae,

e/tabli/hed a 'r"edure all"in th"/e h"/e 'ri"r -arriae/ ere alidated by the 154 re/"luti"n, t"

'etiti"n %"r a %"r-al r e"niti"n "% -arriae thr"uh the Maa@" "urt/. Maa@" Dribal !"unil e/. !N&14&

57 (Neb. 4, 157). $lth"uh the 154 re/"luti"n reFuirin -arriae lien/e/ a/ 'a//ed t" a"id

'r"ble-/ in "btainin "ern-ent bene%it/ %"r de'endent/ by en"urain tribal -e-ber/ t" "btain

-arriae lien/e/, Maa@" "urt/ /ub/eFuently alidated ;u/t"-ary; -arriae/ that "urred a%ter theJanuary 31, 154 date a/ ;"--"n la; -arriae/, thu/ ahiein the /a-e re/ult. See L"ery, supra at

405< In re &arriage o% (aw, 1 Maa@" 'tr. 1, 3 (Maa@" !t.$''.1). Den year/ later, the Maa@" "urt/

a?n"ledin the lanuae "% the 154 Dribal !"unil e/"luti"n aain held that ;any -arriae

"ntrated by tribal u/t"- a%ter January 31, 154, -ay n"t be alidated by the tribal "urt, but i/

re"ni9ed a/ a "--"n la -arriae.; In re &arriage o% ?etc!um, 2 Maa@" 'tr. 102, 105 (Maa@"

!t.$''.17) .10 Dhe "urt:/ In re ?etc!um "'ini"n li/ted the reFuire-ent/ "% a "--"n la -arriae a/E

(1) 're/ent "n/ent t" be hu/band and i%e< (2) atual "habitati"n< and (3) atual h"ldin "ut t" the

"--unity t" be -arried. L"ery, supra at 405&0< In re ?etc!um, 2 Maa@" 'tr. 102, 104&105 citing

?ell$ v. &etropolitan "i%e Ins. Co., 352 N.Su''. 270 (S..M..172) (li/tin e//ential %eature/ "% "--"n

la -arriae), and &eister v. &oore, I.S. ( Gtt") 7, 24 L.d. 82 (1878) (deidin that "--"n la

-arriae e#i/t/ ab/ent a /tatute t" the "ntrary).

13

6n 180, the Dribal !"unil eli-inated the January 31, 154 ut"%% date %"r the alidati"n "% traditi"nal

Maa@" -arriae/ that had been entered int" ith"ut lien/e/, re"ni9in b"th that the Maa@" 'e"'le

had "ntinued t" -arry in traditi"nal ere-"nie/ /ine 154 and that the ;la "% alidated -arriae/ ha/

reated 'r"ble-/ and hard/hi'/ %"r nu-er"u/ -arried Maa@" 'e"'le.; L"'e9, supra at 2< Maa@"

Dribal e/. !$P&3&80 ($'r. 30, 180). "eer, in an e%%"rt t" en"urae the -"e t"ard %"r-ali9ati"n

and t" ea/e the 'r"ble- "% aurate re"rd ?ee'in, the Dribal !"unil ured the Maa@" 'e"'le t" "btain

Maa@" Dribal -arriae lien/e/ 'ri"r t" -arriae and re"rd the- ithin three -"nth/. By eli-inatin the

ut"%% date, the !"unil all"ed all traditi"nal -arriae/ t" be alidated, e#tendin %ederal bene%it/

n"r-ally a%%"rded t" -arried "u'le/ t" th"/e Maa@" "u'le/ ;h" ere re"ni9ed in the "--unity a/

bein -arried and h" "n/idered the-/ele/ /'iritually united in a"rdane ith Maa@" ultural andrelii"u/ traditi"n.; L"'e9, supra at 2 (itin Maa@" Dribal !"unil e/. !$P 3&80 ($'r. 30, 180)).

14

$lth"uh the Su're-e !"urt "% the Maa@" Mati"n "n%ir-ed the in/tituti"n "% "--"n la -arriae in a

188 dei/i"n, 3ava5o 3ation v. &urp!$, Maa@" 'tr. 10,11 in 18 it r uled that ;Maa@" traditi"n and

ulture d" n"t re"ni9e "--"n&la -arriae,; and "erruled all 'ri"r rulin/ 'er-ittin Maa@" "urt/

t" alidate unlien/ed -arriae/ in hih a Maa@" traditi"nal ere-"ny had n"t "urred. L"ery, supra

at 40< In re &arriage o% 4rancisco, 1 6ndian L. e'. 113 (Maa@" 18). >hile delarin ;$nl"&/tyle;

"--"n la -arriae/ inalid a/ "ntrary t" Maa@" traditi"n in In re 4rancisco, the Maa@" Su're-e

!"urt rea%%ir-ed it/ re/'"n/ibility under !$P 3&80 t" alidate unlien/ed -arriae/ "n/erated ith a

traditi"nal ere-"ny. L"ery, supra at 40< In re 4rancisco, 1 6ndian L. e'. 113< L"'e9, supra at 2.

6n 13, the Dribal !"unil re@eted the Maa@" Su're-e !"urt:/ h"ldin in In re 4rancisco inalidatin

"--"n la -arriae/ and e#'liitly inluded "--"n la -arriae/ in the Maa@" !"de. Maa@" Mati"n

!"de, tit. , /e. 3 (13)< L"'e9, supra at 2.

15

!urrent Maa@" la all"/ 'artie/ t" "ntrat -arriae thr"uh a traditi"nal ere-"ny "r by "--"n&la

-arriae ithin the Maa@" Mati"n a/ %"ll"/E

1

. Dhe "ntratin 'artie/ enae in a traditi"nal Maa@" eddin ere-"ny hih /hall hae/ub/tantially the %"ll"in %eature/E

17

1. Dhe 'artie/ t" the 'r"'"/ed -arriae /hall hae -et and areed t" -arry<

18

2. Dhe 'arent/ "% the -an /hall a/? the 'arent/ "% the "-an %"r her hand in -arriae<

1

3. Dhe bride and brider""- eat "rn-eal -u/h "ut "% a /ared ba/?et<

20

4. Dh"/e a//e-bled at the ere-"ny ie adie %"r a ha''y -arriae t" the bride and r""-<

21

5. i%t/ -ay "r -ay n"t be e#haned<

22

. Dhe 'er/"n "%%iiatin "r "ndutin the traditi"nal eddin ere-"ny /hall be auth"ri9ed t" /in the-arriae lien/e, "r

https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/165875/united-states-v-jarvison/?#fn9https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/165875/united-states-v-jarvison/?#fn9https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/165875/united-states-v-jarvison/?#fn9https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/165875/united-states-v-jarvison/?#fn10https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/165875/united-states-v-jarvison/?#fn10https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/165875/united-states-v-jarvison/?#fn10https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/165875/united-states-v-jarvison/?#fn11https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/165875/united-states-v-jarvison/?#fn11https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/165875/united-states-v-jarvison/?#fn9https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/165875/united-states-v-jarvison/?#fn10https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/165875/united-states-v-jarvison/?#fn11


16/27

23

. Dhe "ntratin 'artie/ e/tabli/h a "--"n&la -arriae, hain the %"ll"in %eature/E

24

1. Pre/ent intenti"n "% the 'artie/ t" be hu/band and i%e<

25

2. Pre/ent "n/ent beteen the 'artie/ t" be hu/band and i%e<

2

3. $tual "habitati"n<

27

4. $tual h"ldin "ut "% the 'artie/ ithin their "--unity t" be -arried.

28

Maa@" !"de, tit. = 3. $ain/t thi/ he?ered /tatut"ry and hi/t"rial ba?r"und e a//e// the di/trit"urt:/ deter-inati"n in thi/ a/e.

!

2

$lth"uh later "nedin that Me +e#i" re"ni9e/ alid "--"n la -arriae/ %r"- "ther

@uri/diti"n/, the "ern-ent initially "ntend/ that the di/trit "urt erred hen it deter-ined that a alid

-arriae e#i/ted beteen the Jari/"n/ beau/e Me +e#i" la d"e/ n"t re"ni9e "--"n la

-arriae. >e re@et the "ern-ent:/ %ir/t aru-ent %"r the rea/"n/ /tated ab"e. $dditi"nally, the

"ern-ent "ntend/ that there a/ in/u%%iient eidene t" /u''"rt the di/trit "urt:/ "nlu/i"n that

the Jari/"n/ had a traditi"nal ere-"nial -arriae under the Maa@" !"de. +"re"er, beau/e theJari/"n/ had n"t "-'leted the 'r"edure under Maa@" la t" alidate a traditi"nal "r "--"n la

-arriae, the "ern-ent arue/ that their -arriae a/ inalid.

30

6n ealuatin the "ern-ent:/ "ntenti"n/, e "b/ere that the di/trit "urt "uld hae 'r"dued a

-"re r"bu/t "rder detailin it/ %indin/ "% %at and eidentiary ba/i/ /i-ilar t" the detailed %indin/ "% %at

and "nlu/i"n/ "% la in Beller v. *nited States, 221 N... 7 (.M.+.2003). M"nethele//, "n "ur

reie "% the re"rd, e "nlude that the eidene in the re"rd i/ /u%%iient t" e/tabli/h a alid -arriae

beteen the Jari/"n/. See *nited States v. a$lor, 7 N.3d 130, 134 (10th !ir.1) (h"ldin that

de/'ite a trial "urt:/ %ailure t" -a?e /'ei%i %atual %indin/, an a''ellate "urt i/ %ree t" a%%ir- "n any

r"und/ %"r hih there i/ /u%%iient re"rd t" 'er-it "nlu/i"n/ "% l a).

31

6n thi/ a/e, /ther te/ti%ied t" hain -arried Jari/"n in a traditi"nal Maa@" ere-"ny "n June 25,

153 at !"y"te !any"n ithin the Maa@" e/erati"n. She identi%ied the 'artiular Maa@" -ediine -an

h" 'er%"r-ed the ere-"ny. She an/ered ye/ hen the "urt a/?ed her ;Ai/ that a traditi"nal

-arriae under Maa@" laQ; $lth"uh the "ern-ent -a?e/ -uh "% the %at that /ther did n"t te/ti%y

t" the e#at reFuire-ent/ "utlined in the Maa@" !"de 'r"i/i"n, the /tatute it/el% reFuire/ "nly that the

"u'le ;enae in a traditi"nal Maa@" eddin ere-"ny hih /hall hae su#stantiall$ the %"ll"in

%eature/....; Maa@" !"de, tit. = 3 (e-'ha/i/ added). /ther:/ te/ti-"ny and the in%erene/ ari/in

there%r"- /u''"rt the di/trit "urt:/ "nlu/i"n that a alid

Documents

Marriage Paternity US Cases (1)