Case Name: In the Matter of the Estate of Raimund Johann Abraham, Deceased. Una Katrina Abraham, Respondent; Joan Waltemath, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2011-01-18
Citations: 80 A.D.3d 498
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Estate of Raimund Johann Abraham, Deceased. Una Katrina Abraham, Respondent; Joan Waltemath, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 80
Pages: 498–498

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Estate of Raimund Johann Abraham, Deceased. Una Katrina Abraham, Respondent; Joan Waltemath, Appellant.
[914 NYS2d 629]

Opinion:
— Order, Surrogate's Court, New York County (Kristin Booth Glen, S.), entered on or about June 7, 2010, which granted the petition for letters of administration, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Even if objectant could prove that she was the deceased's concubine under the law of Oaxaca, Mexico, her relationship with the deceased would not be recognized as a marriage in New York because concubinage is not considered marriage in Oaxaca (see Van Voorhis v Brintnall, 86 NY 18, 25 [1881]; Matter of Mott v Duncan Petroleum Trans., 51 NY2d 289, 292 [1980]; see also Godfrey v Spano, 13 NY3d 358, 378 [2009, Ciparick, J., concurring]). Concur — Gonzalez, P.J., Mazzarelli, Moskowitz, Acosta and Román, JJ.