Re: The estate of a bigamist - a thorny issue
In what respect? Historically, the concept of a common law wife mattered for nought either side of the border.
Re: The estate of a bigamist - a thorny issue
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Taunton Blue Genie
Illegal contracts are invalid.
The law is an ass
Re: The estate of a bigamist - a thorny issue
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rjk
Yeah, just my opinion, but I would say so.
He "married" the second woman 20 years after the first and was (effectively) married to her for 25 years, whereas the first wife presumably had no contact with him after they separated, otherwise she would have known about the bigamy. If the bloke was a house, she would have had squatters rights by then :hehe:
Also, reading it again, the first wife died before the bigamistanyway, so she couldn't inherit anything. Then wouldn't the money default to the second woman as his common law wife, having lived together for 25 years?
It was just the 'morally' bit I was struggling with really :hehe:
Re: The estate of a bigamist - a thorny issue
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mrs Steve R
It was just the 'morally' bit I was struggling with really :hehe:
To me it just seems right that the woman who thought she had been married to him for 25 years until he died would get the money, rather than the woman who he hadnt seen for 45 years.
I know that may not be what the law says (although as the first wife died before him I can't see how she is supposed to be able to inherit anything anyway)