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17 Abb. N. Cas. 265

Combs v. Combs

New York Supreme Court

Decided September 15, 1885

New York Supreme Court · decided 1885-09-15

<p>Void marriage ; Action to set aside after decease of party.</p> <p>An action will not lio to set aside a void marriage after the decease of one of the parties.</p> <p>The subject of divorce is exclusively regulated by statute, and actions relating thereto can only be maintained pursuant to statutory provisions.</p>

Relies on Cropsey v. McKinney · Peugnet v. Phelps · Blott v. Rider

Decided 1885-09-15

Tappan, J.

¶1—The complaint is defective. The demurrer must be sustained.

¶2First. It is alleged that at the time plaintiff married Elisha L. Combs, he then had another wife living ; it does not appear that above named defendant was then his wife (3 R. S. [5th ed.] 227, § 4; Bishop on Mar. & Div. § 201).

¶3Second. The power possessed by this court over the subject of divorce is given exclusively by statute ; it can exercise no other power (Peugnet v. Phelps, 48 Barb. 566; Palmer v. Palmer, 1 Paige, 276 ; Blott v. Rider, 47 How.Pr. 90; Sullivan v. Sullivan, 32 Hun, 453).

¶4Third. Although the marriage between plaintiff and Elisha L. Combs was void, if he then had another wife living (3 R. S. [5 ed.] 227, § 4), yet the statute contemplates that an action may be maintained by the innocent party to the second marriage, to obtain a decree to that effect, and allows such action to be brought by such party to the void marriage during the life of the other, but not after (Code Civ. Pro. § 1745; Cropsey v. McKinney, 30 Barb. 47, 55; Griffin v. Banks, 24 Hun, 213).

¶5Demurrer sustained. Plaintiff may amend on payment of $35 costs in twenty days after notice of this decision ; if amendment not made and costs paid within that time, final judgment to be entered for said defendant, with costs of this action.

¶6The plaintiff having failed to amend, final judgment was entered against her.

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