Marriage Brokerage

The act by which a person interferes, for a consideration to be received by him, between a nian and a woman, for the purpose of promoting a marriage between them. 88 111. App. 509. The money paid for such service is also known by this name. It is a doctrine of the courts of equity that all marriage brokage" contracts are utterly void, as against public policy, and are therefore, incapable of confirmation. 1 Fonbl. Eq, bk. 1, c. 4, § 10, note (s); 2 Story, Eq. Jur. § 263; Newland, Cont. 469. But where a party is established in business as a marriage broker, one dealing with him is not in pari delicto, and can recover back money deposited on a contract. 124 N. Y. 156.

The act by which a person interferes, for a consideration to be received by him, between a man and a woman, for the purpose of promoting a marriage between them. The money paid for such service is also known by this name. Such contracts are illegal at common law; Show. P. C. 76; 3 P. Wms. 76; and in equity they are utterly void, as against public policy; 1 Fonbl. Eq. b. 1, c. 4, 10, note s; 2 Sto. Eq. Jur. § 263; 1 Ves. 503; Morrison v. Rogers, 115 Cal. 252, 46 Pac. 1072, 66 Am. St Rep. 95; Johnson’s Adm’r v. Hunt, 81 Ky. 321; Hellen v. Anderson, 83 111. App. 606; In re Grobe’s Estate, 127 la. 121, 102 N. W. 804; and a contract' to hasten an intended marriage is as much a marriage brokerage contract as one to bring about a marriage between strangers; Jangraw v. Perkins, 76 Vt. 127, 56 Atl. 532, 104 Am. St. Rep. 917. It is said that such contracts were good at the civil law and that “matchmakers {proxenetw) were allowed to receive a reward for their services.’’ Blsph. Eq. § 224.