THI RD DI VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, GOBEI L and HODGES, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

October 8, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A1 47 2 . DILLARD v . SCHILKE.

H O D G E S , J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g t h e d eat h o f W i l l i e Di l l a r d (“ W i ll i e”), b o th p art i es t o t h is ap p eal

,

Vel eri a Di l l ard (“ Vel eri a”) an d Bri d g it te Sch i l k e (a/ k/ a Bri d gi t t e Di l l ard )

(“ Bri d gi t t e”), cl ai m ed t o b e h i s l eg al s u rv i v i n g s p o u se. It i s u n d i s p u t ed t h at Vel eri a

was W il l i e’ s fi rs t wi fe, an d s he p et i t io n ed t o b e d ecl ared W i l l i e’ s l awfu l wi fe at t h e

t i m e o f h i s d eat h an d f

o r Wi l l i e ’s s u b s eq u en t m arri ag e t o Bri d g it t e t o b e d ecl ared

i n v al i d

. B r i d g i t te co un t ercl ai m ed fo r a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t reco g n i zi ng h er as

W i ll i e’ s l awfu l s u rv i v i ng s p o u s e. Th e t ri al c our t de nie d V e le r i a’ s m o ti on fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t o n her p et i ti o n , an d a ju ry d et erm i n ed t h at Bri d g it t e was W i l li e’ s s u rv i v i n g

s p o u se. Vel eri a n ow ap p eal s, co n t en d i n g t h at (1 ) t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h er

m o ti o n fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t ; (2 ) t h e j u ry ’ s verd i ct i s ag ai ns t t h e p rep o nd eran ce o ft h e ev i d en ce; an d (3 ) th e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct i s n o t s u pp o rt ed by t h e ev id en ce. Fo r t h e

reas on s th at fo l l ow, we fi n d t h e ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t t o su p po rt t h e j u ry ’ s verd i ct an d

affi rm

.

“ Th ere i s a p res u m

p t i o n i n fav o r o f t h e v al i d it y o f v erd i ct s. An d aft er ren d i t i o n

o f a v erd i ct

, al l t h e ev i d en ce an d ev ery p res u m p t i o n an d i n feren ce ari s i n g t h erefro m ,

m u st be co n s tru e d m o s t fav orab l y to ward s u ph o l d i n g th e v erd i ct .” (Ci tat i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Na t i o n wi d e M u t

. Fi r e In s

. Co

. v. W

i ley

, 22 0 Ga. Ap p

. 4 4 2

, 4 4 3

(2 ) (4 69 SE2 d 3 02 ) (1 9 9 6 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at W il l i e an d Vel eri a m arri ed o n Decem b er

2 5

, 1 9 6 9 i n M i s s i ss i p p i an d h ad t wo ch il d ren

. In 1 9 7 6, W i l li e l eft t h e m ari tal h o m e.

Aro un d J u n e o f 1 97 9 , Vel eri a was s erv ed w i t h di v o rce p ap ers an d pu rp o rt ed l y t o ld

t h at i f sh e d i d n o t h in g, s h e wo u l d b e d i v o rced i n 1 0 day s

. In 1 9 8 0, W i l li e s u b m i t t ed

a s wo rn s t at em en t t o t h e Un i t ed St at es Arm y wh erei n he at t es t e d t h at h e pet i t i o n ed

fo r a d i s s o l u t i o n o f h i s m arri ag e t o Vel eri a i n Au g u st 1 9 7 9 an d was at t h at t i m e

l eg al ly s ep arat ed fro m

h er.

In 1 9 8 1

, b el i ev i ng h ers el f t o b e d i v orced fro m W i l l ie, Vel eri a m arri ed a m an

n am ed H erm an Bro wn

. Vel eri a’ s m arri ag e l i cen s e i n d i cat es t h at s h e w a s d i v o rced

fro m W i l l i e i n Decem

b er 19 7 9

. In ei t h er 1 9 8 3 o r 1 9 8 4

, h o wev er, V el eri a sep arat ed

2fro m Bro wn

. Sh e co n t en ds s he d i d s o b e c a u s e s h e l earn ed s h e w as n o t l eg al l y

d i v o rced fro m W il l i e, an d th at s h e n ev er ag ai n l i v ed wi t h Bro wn as h e r h u s b an d.

D e s p i t e n o w cl ai m i n g t h at s h e k n ew i n th e earl y 1 9 8 0 ’ s t h at s h e was no t d i v o rc e d

fro m W i l l i e, Vel eri a t o o k no act i o n t o l eg al l y d i v o rce h i m , al t h o u g h s h e cl ai m s t h at

s h e t o l d h i m

t h at t h ey were s t i l l m arri ed

.

W i l l i e, ho wev er, s u b s eq u en t l y rem arri ed

. W h i l e st at io n ed wi t h t h e Arm y in

Germ an y , W i l l i e m et Bri d g i t t e an d m o v ed i n wi t h h er an d h er t wo ch i l d ren i n 1 9 8 2.

On ce W i ll i e p ro p o s ed

, h e cal l ed Vel eri a t o g et h i s b irt h cert ifi cat e s o h e co u l d m arry

Bri d g i t t e. W i l li e an d Bri d g i t t e m arri ed i n Sep t em b er 19 8 6 i n Den m ark

. Bri d g i t t e d o es

n o t k n o w wh at do cu m en t at i o n W i l l i e pro v i ded Dan i s h au t h o ri ti es , b u t s h e was

req u i red t o p ro v id e h er d i v o rce d ecree fro m h er p ri or m arri ag e.

Aft e r Wi l l i e an d Bri d g i t t e were m arri ed

, W i l l i e was req u i red t o s u bm i t

d o cu m en t at i o n t o th e A rm y s o th at s h e an d h er ch i l d ren co u l d o b tai n m i l it ary

i d en t i fi cat i o n card s an d s o t h a t h er ch i l dren co u ld at t en d an Am eri can h i g h s ch o o l

.

Ag ai n , Bri d g i tt e d o es n o t k n ow wh at d ocu m en tat i o n W i l li e was req u i red t o p ro v i de,

b u t s h e was req u ired t o p ro d u ce h er d iv o rce d ecree. In ad d i t i o n, W i l li e p et i t io n ed fo r

Bri d g i t t e an d h er ch i l dren t o o b t ai n g reen card s an d

, u l t i m at el y , al l o f t h em m o v ed to

Hi n es v i ll e, Geo rg i a aft er W il li e’ s s t at io n wi t h th e Arm y ch an ged i n 1 98 8

. Fro m 1 9 9 3

3t o 1 99 5

, W i l l i e was s t at i o n ed i n Germ an y ag ai n , wh ere he l i v ed wi t h Bri d gi t t e an d

h er ch i l d ren u n t i l h i s ret i rem en t an d m ov e b ack t o Geo rg i a.

Fro m t h e t im e t hey were m arri ed un t i l h i s d eat h

, W i l l i e, B r i d g i t t e , an d h er

ch i l d ren l i v ed l i k e a t y

pi cal fam i l y , an d Bri d g i tt e’ s ch i ld ren co n s id ered W i l l i e t h ei r

fat h er. In ad d i t i o n , Wi l l i e an d Bri d g i t t e fi l ed jo in t t ax es as a m arri ed co u p l e, an d

W i ll i e n am ed Bri dg i t t e as h i s ret i rem en t a c c o u n t b en efi ci ary , i den t i fy i ng h er as h i s

wi fe. W il l i e al so p et i ti on ed t o ren ew Bri d gi tt e’ s g reen card ev ery 1 0 y ears

. An d

, fo r

a p eri o d o f t i m e, W i ll i e’ s s o n wi t h Vel eri a l i v ed wi t h W i l l i e an d Bri d g i t t e, an d t h e

t wo wo m en s p o k e ab o ut t h is arran g em en t

.

In 2 01 1

, Bri d gi t t e l earn ed t h at W i l l i e h ad en d -s t ag e l i v er ca n c e r

. He was

h o s p it al i zed fo r t h ree week s , an d Bri dg i tt e s tay ed b y h i s s i de d uri n g t h i s t i m e. Vel eri a

k n ew o f W il l ie’ s i l l n es s , b ut s h e d i d n ot v i si t h i m i n t h e h o s p i t al

. W i l l i e was

d i s ch arg ed fro m t he ho sp i tal an d n u rs es cam e t o h is ho u se t o care fro m h i m , an d

, s t i l l

,

Vel eri a d i d n ot co n tact Bri d g it t e. On Feb ru ary 1 3

, 2 0 1 2

, W il li e d i ed

. Bri d gi t t e m ad e

W i ll i e’ s fu n eral arran g em en t s an d h er d au g h t er p ai d fo r t h e fu n eral wi t h n o

i n v o l v em en t fro m

Vel eri a.

Aft er W i l l i e’ s d eat h

, Vel eri a d i v o rced h er s eco n d h u sb an d o n t h e g ro u n d s o f

“ u n i n t en d ed b i g am

y .” Bri d g it t e d i d n o t k n ow u n t il aft er W i l l i e’ s deat h t hat Vel eri a

4cl ai m ed t o s t i l l b e m arri ed t o h i m . No d i v orce cert i fi cat e d i s s ol v i n g t h e m arri ag e o f

Vel eri a an d W i l l i e h as b een l o cat ed d es p it e Vel eri a’ s search o f reco rd s in s o m e, b ut

n o t al l

, o f t h e p l aces i n an d aro u n d w h ere W i l l i e l i v ed d u e t o h i s vari o u s Arm y

rel o cat io n s

.

Bo t h Vel eri a an d Bri d g i t t e beg an p et i t io n in g fo r v ari o u s b en efi t s aft er W i l l i e’ s

d eat h

, i n cl u d i n g s o ci al secu ri t y , l i fe i n s u r an ce, fed eral p en s io n , an d fed eral d eat h

b en efi t s

. Vel eri a was award ed W i l l i e’ s s o ci al s ecur ity b e ne f its, but Bri d g it t e, wh o s t i l l

l i ved i n G eo rg i a, was n o t n o t i fi ed o f t h e heari ng in M i s s i s s i pp i w h i ch res u l ted i n t h at

ad ju d i cat i o n

. Vel eri a was al s o award ed t h e p ro ceed s o f o n e of W i l l ie’ s l i fe i n s u ran ce

p o l i ci es

. O n t h e o t h er h an d

, Bri d g i t t e, wh o was W i ll i e’ s p ri m ary ben efi ci ary i n h i s

wi l l a n d n am ed t h erei n as h is “ wi fe,” was p erm i t t ed t o p ro b at e t h e wi l l an d was

ap p oi n t ed b y t h e co u rt as th e es t a t e ’s a d m in i s t rat o r. In ad d i t io n , al t ho u g h Bri d g i t t e

i n i t i al l y recei v ed W i l l i e’ s ret i rem en t b en efi t s, t h e b en efi ts were s us p en d ed b ecau s e

o f t h e d i s p u t e wi t h Vel eri a, an d Bri d g it t e l o s t t he h o m e s h e s h ared wi t h W i l l i e to

fo recl o s ure.

Bo t h Vel eri a an d Bri d gi tt e s o u g h t res p ect i ve d ecl arat i o n s fro m t he t ri al co u rt

t h at s h e was t h e l eg al s u rv i v i n g s p o us e o f W il l ie. Vel eri a m o v ed f o r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t o n h er p et i t i o n , wh i ch t h e t ri al co urt d en i ed aft er fi n d i n g t h at fact u al

5d i s p u t es ex i s t ed as t o wh o w as W i l l i e’ s wi d o w. Th e c as e p ro ceed ed t o a ju ry t ri al

,

wh ere V el eri a, Bri d g i t t e , an d Bri dg et t e’ s d au g h t er t es t i fi ed

. Th e ju ry ret u rn ed a

v erd i ct fi n d i n g Bri d g i t t e t o b e W i l l i e’ s s u rv i v i n g s po u s e an d award i n g h er $ 5 ,0 0 0 in

at t o rn ey fees . Vel eri a n o w ap p eal s

.

W e fi rs t n ot e th at Vel eri a’ s ap p el lat e b ri ef fai ls t o co m p l y wi th nu m ero u s Co u rt

o f Ap p eal s ru l es , m ak i ng res o l ut i o n o f her arg u m en t s d i ffi cu lt

. Fi rs t

, i n v i o l at i o n o f

Co u rt Ru l e 2 5 (a), h er b ri ef co n t ai n s v i rt u al ly n o ci tat i on s t o t he reco rd

. “ It i s n o t t h e

fu n ct i o n o f t h i s Co urt to cu l l t h e reco rd o n b eh al f of a p art y i n s earch o f i ns t an ces o f

erro r. T h e b u rd en is u p o n t h e p art y al l eg i n g erro r to s h o w i t affi rm at i vel y i n t h e

reco rd .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Gu i l f o r d v. Ma r r i o t t In t l.

, 2 96 G a. Ap p.

5 0 3 , 5 0 4 (6 7 5 SE2 d 24 7 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

In ad d i t i o n ,

w e p o i n t o ut t h at [Vel eri a’ s ] ap p el lat e b ri ef i s n o t in co m p l i an ce wi t h

Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru le 2 5(c) (1 ),

. . . Al t h ou g h [ V el eri a’ s ] b ri ef

en u m erat es s ev eral s ep arat e erro rs , [h er] bri ef d o es n o t co n tai n s ep arat e

arg u m en t s ect i o ns fo r each en u m erat i on an d fo l l o ws no part i cu l ar o rd er

i n i t s p res en t at i o n

. As we h av e h el d

, Ru l e 2 5 (c) (1 ) i s m o re t h an a m ere

fo rm al i t y

. It i s a req u i rem en t wh i ch t h i s Co u rt i m po s es t o en s u re t hat al l

en u m erat i o n s o f e r ro r are ad d res s ed an d t o faci l i t at e rev i ew o f each

en u m erat i o n

. By fai l in g to co m p l y wi t h t h e ru l e, [Vel eri a] has h i n dered

t h e Co u rt ’ s rev i ew o f [h er] as s ert i o n s an d h as ri s k ed th e p o s s ib i l i t y t hat

6cert ai n en u m erat i o ns wi l l n o t b e ad d res s ed

. Acco rd in g l y , to th e ex t en t

t h at we are ab le t o di s cern wh i ch o f t h e en u m erat i o n s are s u pp o rt ed i n

t h e b ri ef b y ci tat i o n o f au t h o ri t y or arg u m en t

, w e wi l l ad d res s t h o s e

en u m erat i o n s

. (Ci t at i on o m i tt ed .) Ba r n et t v. Fu l l a rd

, 3 0 6 Ga. A p p

. 1 4 8

, 1 4 9 -1 5 0 ( 1 ) ( 7 0 1 SE2 d 60 8 ) (2 0 10 ); s ee Co u rt o f A pp eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c)

(1 ) (“ Th e s eq u en ce o f arg u m en t s i n t he b ri efs s h al l fo ll ow t h e o rd er o f

t h e en um erat io n o f erro rs , an d s h al l b e n u m b ered acco rd i n g l y ”).

1

. Vel eri a fi rs t co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h er m o t i o n f o r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t . Th is en u m erat i o n p res en t s n o t h i n g fo r u s t o rev iew.

Geo rg i a l aw i s cl ear t h at “ an ap pel l at e co u rt d oes n o t re v i e w t h e d en i al o f

s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n ce a cas e i s t ri ed

. In s t ead

, t h e ap p el l at e co u r t r e v i e ws t h e

s u ffi ci en cy o f th e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m os t fav o rab l e t o t he ju ry ’ s verd i ct

. ” (Ci t at i o n

o m it t ed .) Ca wl ey v. Ben n et t

, 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6

, 4 7 (1 ) (6 6 6 SE2 d 4 3 8 ) (2 0 08 ); s ee al s o

Vel a s c o v

. Ch a mb l es s , 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 6

, 3 7 7 -3 7 8 (2 ) (6 7 1 SE2 d 8 70 ) (2 0 0 8 )

(“ [D] en i al o f a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t i s ren dered m o o t b y t h e co u rt ’ s en t ry

o f ju d g m en t o n t h e v erd i ct .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .). Co n s eq u en t l y , t h e

d en ial o f Vel eri a’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju dg m en t p res en t s n o th i n g fo r o u r rev i ew.

2

. In t wo rel at ed en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, Vel eri a co nt en d s t h at t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

i s ag ai n s t t h e p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce an d i s n o t s up p o rt ed b y t h e ev i den ce. W e

d i s ag ree.

7Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, t o b e ab le to en t er i n t o a m arri ag e, a pers o n m u s t “ [h ] av e

n o l i vi n g s po u s e of a p rev i ou s u n d i s s o l v ed m arri ag e. Th e d i s s ol u t i o n o f a p rev i o u s

m arri ag e i n d i v o rce p ro ceed in gs m u s t b e affi rm at i v el y e s t a b l i s h ed an d wi l l n o t b e

p res u m ed .” OCGA § 1 9 -3 -2 (a) (3 ).

W h ere a p art y t o a cerem on i al m arri ag e h as b een p rev i o u s l y m arri ed an d

t h e v al i d i t y

o f t h e s eco n d m arri ag e i s ch al l en g ed , a p res u m p t io n ari ses

t h at t h e s eco n d m arri ag e is val i d u n t i l ev i den ce i s ad d u ced t h at th e

s p o u s e o f t h e fi rs t m arri ag e i s l i v i n g , an d o n l y t hen d o es t h e [l aw] p l ace

t h e b u rd en o n t h e p art y co n t en d i n g t h at t h e s eco n d m arri ag e i s v al i d t o

g o f o rward wi t h th e ev i d en ce an d s h o w t h at t h e fi rs t m arri ag e w a s

d i s s ol v ed b y

d i v o rce.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Gl o ver v. Gl o ver , 1 7 2 Ga. A p p

. 27 8

, 27 9 (1 ) (3 2 2

SE2 d 7 5 5) (1 9 8 4).

Here, i t i s u n di sp u ted t h at Vel eri a an d W i l l i e were m arri ed in 1 9 6 9 an d t h at s h e

i s s t i ll al i v e. Acco rd i n gl y , i t was Bri d g i t t e’ s b u rd en t o es t ab l is h b y t h e ev id en ce t h at

W i ll i e an d Vel eri a were l eg al l y d i v o rced

. See Gl o ver , s u p ra, 1 7 2 Ga. Ap p . 2 7 9 (1 ).

Vel eri a’ s arg um en t t h at B r i d g i t t e h as n ot m et h er b u rd en i s p rem i s ed o n an

as s u m pt i o n t h a t B r i d g i t t e can o n l y p rev ai l i f s h e p ro d u ces a co p y o f t h e d i v o rce

d ecree b et ween Vel eri a an d W i l l i e. W h i l e t he d i v o r c e d e c r ee wo u l d b e d i rect

ev i d en ce o f t he di s so l u t i o n o f th e m arri ag e, an y fact can b e p ro v en t h ro u g h

8ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i den ce. See, e. g ., S o u t h er n Exp o si ti o n Mg mt

. Co

. v. Gen ma r In d us

. ,

2 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 70 2

, 7 0 4 (5 51 SE2 d 8 30 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (“ A cl ai m o f ag en cy m ay be p ro v ed

,

as an y o th er fact

, b y ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce.”); Ka p s c h v. S to wer

s , 2 09 Ga. Ap p.

7 6 7

, 7 6 9 (1 ) (4 3 4 SE2 d 5 3 9 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (“ Neg l i g en ce, l ik e an y o t h er fact

, m ay b e p ro v ed

b y ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i den ce as wel l as b y d i rect t es t i m o n y .”) (ci t at i on an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); Ro l l i n s v. Gr ea t S o u t h wes t Fi r e In s

. Co

. , 1 6 2 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 9

, 1 4 0 (1 ) (2 9 0

SE2 d 3 5 3 ) (1 98 2 ) (“ Al t h o ug h t h e ev i d en ce

. . . was ci rcu m s t an t i al

, su ch ev i d en ce can

b e u s ed t o p ro v e an y fact .”).

Th e s t an d ard fo r rel y i n g o n ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce i s wel l s et t l ed :

W h en a p a r t y i s rel y i n g o n in feren ces fro m ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i den ce t o

p ro v e a p o i n t

, n ot o n l y m u s t t h o s e i n feren ces t en d i n s o m e p ro x i m at e

d eg ree t o es t ab li s h th e co n cl u s i o n s o u g ht

, b ut t h ey m us t al s o ren d er l es s

p ro b ab l e al l i n co n s is t en t co ncl u s i o n s

.

(Ci t at i o n o m it t ed .) Ha rr i s v. Ho l d er Co n s t r

. Co

. , 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 0 3

, 5 0 5 (1 ) (7 4 5

SE2 d 7 4 4) (2 0 1 3). St at ed d i fferen t l y ,

W h ere a p l ai n ti ff i n a ci v il cas e s u p p o rt s [h er] cas e s ol el y b y

ci rcu m s t an ti al ev i d en ce, b efo re [s h e] i s au t ho ri zed t o h av e a v erd i ct i n
[h er] fav o r t he t es t im o n y m u s t b e s u ch as t o reas o n ab ly es tab l i s h th e

t h eo ry rel i ed on

. Th ere m u s t b e m o re t h an a ‘ s ci n ti l l a’ o f ci rcu m s tan ces

t o carry th e cas e t o t h e ju ry

. It i s fo r t h e c o u rt t o s ay w het h er th e

9c i rcu m s t an ces reas o n ab l y es t ab l is h t h e h y po t h es i s rel i ed on b y t h e

p l ai n t i ff. If t he ev i d en ce m eet s th i s t es t

, i t i s th en fo r t h e j u r y t o s ay , ei t h er t h at t h e p l ai n ti ff h as n o t carri ed [h er] b u rd en of p ro of b ecau s e th e

e v id en ce eq u al l y s u p p o rt s [h er] h y po t h es i s an d s o m e o th er reas o n a b l e

h y p o t h es i s , o r t hat t h e p lai n t i ff h as carri ed [h er] b u rd en o f p ro o f in t hat

t h e ev i d en ce prep o n d erat es t o [h er] h y p o th es i s as ag a i n s t al l o t h er

reas o n ab l e b u t l es s p ro b ab l e h y p o t h es es

.

S o u t h ea s t er n Fi del i t

y In s

. Co

. v. S t even s , 1 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 2

, 5 6 4 -5 6 5 (2 ) (2 3 6 SE2 d

5 5 0 ) (1 9 7 7 ).

W i t h t h es e pri n ci p l es i n m i nd

, r e v i ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o u p h o l d i n g t h e v erd i ct i n t h i s cas e, we fi n d t hat t h e ju ry was au t h o ri zed

t o co n cl u d e th a t (1 ) t h e ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce es t ab l i sh ed t h at W i l l i e an d Vel eri a

l eg al ly d i v o rced an d (2 ) t h at W i l l i e’ s m arri ag e t o Bri d g i t t e was v al i d

. B ri d g i t t e d id

n o t ju s t rel y o n h er own s u b ject i v e b el i efs o r th o s e o f W i l l i e an d Vel eri a as t o t h e

l eg al it y o f t h e d i v o rce. 1 Rat h er, i n s u p p o rt o f h er p o s i ti o n , Bri d g i t t e d em o n st rat ed t h at

1 Am p l e ev i den ce was p res en t ed th at b o th W i l li e a n d V el eri a s u bject i v el y b el i ev ed t h em s el v es t o b e d iv o rced

, i n cl u d i ng W il l i e’ s swo rn s t at em en t t o t h e Arm y , t h e re-m arri ag e o f b o t h part i es , an d Val eri a’ s i n act io n i n p u rs ui n g a d i v o rce d es p i t e

p u rp ort ed l y b el iev i n g s h e was s t i l l m arri ed t o W il l i e d ecad es aft er t h ey s ep arat ed

. Ho wev er, t h e p a r t i e s ’ su b ject i v e b el i efs as to t h e s t at u s o f W i l li e an d Vel eri a’ s

m arri ag e are l eg al l y i rrel ev an t. See Cl a r k v. Ca s s i d

y , 6 2 Ga. 4 0 7

, 4 1 2 ( 5 ) ( 1 8 7 9 ) (“ No r d o es i t m at t er th at t h e i n n o cen t p art y t o th e seco n d m a r r i a g e was i g n o ran t o f

t h e fi rs t ; t h e s eco n d i s v o i d i f ei t h er was m arri ed t o an o t h er wh en t h e s eco n d was

10t h e D an i s h go v e rn m en t

, t h e Un i t ed St at es Arm y , an d Un i t ed St at es i m

m i g rat i o n

o ffi ci al s were al l s at i s fi ed t h at W i l l i e an d Bri d g i t te co u l d a n d d i d l eg al l y m arry

.

W h i l e Bri d g i t t e was u n s ure wh at d o cu m en t at i o n W i l l i e p ro v i d ed t h es e o ffi ci al s , s h e

t es t i fi ed t h at s h e was req u i red t o p r o v i d e th em wi t h p ro o f of h er p ri o r d i v o rce.

Becau s e th es e g ov ern m en t al en t i t i es reco g n i zed W i l li e an d Bri dg i t t e’ s m arri ag e, t h e

ju ry was au t h o ri zed t o fi nd t h at Bri d g i t t e carri ed h er b u rd en of pro o f “ i n t h a t t h e

ev i d en ce p rep o n d e r a t es t o [h er] h y p o t h es i s as ag ai n s t al l o t h er reas o n ab l e b u t l es s

p ro b ab l e h y

p o t h es es .” See S t even s , s u p ra, 1 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 6 5 (2 ). 2 M o reo ver, a ju ry

was n ot req u i red t o fi n d i n Vel eri a’ s fav or s i m p l y b ecau s e a d i v o rce d ecree h ad n ot

b een lo cat ed

, es p eci al l y g i v en th e n u m b er o f ju ri s d i ct i o n s wh ere s u ch a d ecree co u ld

h av e b een fi l ed d u e t o W i l l i e’ s m u l t i p l e Arm

y rel o cat i o ns

.

co n tract ed

, s o far as th e p art i es th e m s e l v e s are co n cern ed .”); s ee al s o Cl a r ke v. Cl a rke

, 18 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 8 (3 7 2 SE2 d 4 7 5 ) (1 9 8 8 ) (wh ere d eced en t ’s f i r s t m arri ag e

was n o t d i s s o l v ed

, d eced en t ’ s s eco n d wi fe was n o t p erm i t ted t o ad m i n i s t er h i s es t at e

ev en th o u g h s h e b el i ev ed h ers el f t o b e m arri ed t o h i m an d b o re h i s ch i l d ren ).

2 Th i s cas e i s fact u al ly d i s t i n g u is h ab l e fro m Gl over , 1 7 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 7 9 (1 ),

rel i ed u p o n b y Vel eri a. A rev i ew o f Gl o ver i n d i cat es th at t h e s e c o n d s p o u s e i n t ro du ced n o ev i d en ce t o m eet h er b urd e n t o es t ab l is h t he d i s s o l u t i o n o f t h e d eced en t ’ s fi rs t m arri ag e b y d i v o rce.

11Th e ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce i n t h i s cas e was s u ffi ci en t fo r a rat i o n al t ri er o f

fact t o fi n d t h at W i l l i e an d Vel eri a h ad d i v o rced p ri o r t o W il l i e’ s m a r r i ag e to

Bri d g i t t e. Acco rd i n g l y , t h e ev i d en ce s u p po rt ed t h e ju ry ’ s v erd ict t h at Bri d gi t t e was

W i ll i e’ s l awfu l s u rv i vi n g s p ou se.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di l l ar d

, P. J., a n d

Go b ei l , J., co n cu r

.

12