Case Name: Anna P. Williams, Plaintiff, v. Norman Williams, Defendant
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1911-04
Citations: 71 Misc. 590
Docket Number: 
Parties: Anna P. Williams, Plaintiff, v. Norman Williams, Defendant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 71
Pages: 590–591

Head Matter:
Anna P. Williams, Plaintiff, v. Norman Williams, Defendant.
(Supreme Court, Oneida Trial Term,
April, 1911.)
Marriage—Annulment of marriage: Judgment — Rendition — Proof required:- Grounds — Fraud.
Under section 1753 of the Code of Civil Procedure a judgment annulling a marriage cannot be rendered upon defendant’s default without proof of the facts upon which the allegation of nullity is founded.
Allegations that defendant represented to plaintiff his age as twenty-one when in fact he was but twenty years and some months, and that just prior to their marriage he told her she need not leave her home and could always continue to reside there, are insufficient to justify a decree annulling the marriage on the ground of fraud, though it has not been consummated by cohabitation, where each of the parties was over the age of legal consent.
. Action for annulment of marriage on the ground of fraud.
Kernan & Kernan, for plaintiff.
No appearance for defendant.

Opinion:
Devendorf, J.
This is an action for annulment of marriage on the ground o-f fraud. The defendant makes default in appearing, hut a judgment annulling a marriage cannot be rendered by -default for want of appearance or pleading without proof of the facts upon which the allegation -of nullity is founded. Code Civ. Pro., § 1753.
An action may he maintained to procure a judgment declaring a marriage contract void and annulling the marriage where the consent of one of the parties was obtained by force, duress or fraud. Code Civ. Pro., § 1743; Dom. Rel. Law, § 7, subd. 4.
The fraud complained of in this action is that the defendant represented himself to he twenty-one years o-f age when, in fact, he was hut tweiity years- -and some months, and upon the further ground that he stated to the plaintiff, just prior to the marriage ceremony, that plaintiff need not leave her home, that the fact of a marriage would make no difference in her circumstances or condition and that she could always continue to reside at her home as formerly.
I am of the opinion that such statements upon defendant's part are not sufficient to justify this court in granting a decree of nullity herein.
It is alleged and conceded that the marriage, ceremony was legally solemnized by a minister of the gospel. Without further relation on the part of the contracting parties, this became a legal marriage and the relation of husband and wife .was created. Jackson v. Winne, 7 Wend. 47; Dom. Rel. Law, § 11.
I am aware of the fact that in some cases, where the marriage has not been consummated (as in this case) by cohabitation, courts have been influenced to give the benefit of all doubts' to the parties and release them from their embarrassing position; but there must be always a legal reason and a just cause within the purview of the statute upon which to establish the judgment of the court.
Marriage consent in this State is fixed at eighteen years (Dom. Rel. Law, § 7) and, consequently, neither of these parties could break away from their marriage contract because of nonage. The law recognized them of sufficient age to be responsible for their act, and they are obligated by it.
The facts shown do not empower the court to put asunder the bonds of matrimony. Judgment of annulment is, therefore, refused.
Judgment accordingly.