Court Opinion

ID: 9727784
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 13:50:20.510385+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:42.832304
License: Public Domain

JOHNSON, Judge,
dissenting:
I wholeheartedly agree with the majority opinion that a common law marriage exists whenever an agreement of marriage is entered by an exchange of words in praesenti. In re Estate of Stauffer, 54 Pa. 626, 476 A.2d 354 (1984); Commonwealth v. Sullivan, 484 Pa. 130, 398 A.2d 978 (1979); In re Estate of Gower, 445 Pa. 554, 284 A.2d 742 (1971); In re Cummings Estate, 330 Pa.Super. 255, 479 A.2d 537 (1984). I also agree that cohabitation and reputation are merely circumstances from which the existence of a contract of marriage can be inferred, In re Manfredi’s Estate, 399 Pa. 285, 159 A.2d 697 (1960); In re Wagner’s Estate, 398 Pa. 531, 159 A.2d 495 (1960); In re Estate of Rees, 331 Pa.Super. 225, 480 A.2d 327 (1984), and that the inference of marriage to be drawn from cohabitation and reputation fails upon proof that no marriage contract was entered. In re Estate of Rees, supra.
I can not agree, however, that these principles were understood and correctly applied by the orphans’ court.
The settled law in Pennsylvania defines a common law marriage as “a marriage by the express agreement of the parties without ceremony, and almost invariably without a witness, by words—not in futuro or in postea, but—in praesenti, uttered with a view and for the purpose of establishing the relationship of husband and wife.” In re Manfredi’s Estate, supra, 399 Pa. at 291, 159 A.2d at 700 (emphasis in original). It is my understanding that this is the only prerequisite for a common law marriage.
My review of the record does not disclose any point in the proceedings where either the Master or the trial judge ever determined, as a fact, that words constituting a marriage *237contract were or were not exchanged between Mike Kowalchick and Adele Baldwin. Such a finding of fact is necessary, in my view, before any discussion of cohabitation and reputation is warranted.
I would vacate the Decree Nisi and judgment entered thereon and would remand for a finding of fact on this crucial issue and for further proceedings not inconsistent with the views expressed herein.