PRINTER'S NO. 31
No. 43 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY MAYERNIK, FLICK, SEYFERT, GIGLIOTTI AND
BENNINGHOFF, JANUARY 20, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JANUARY 20, 1999
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, further providing for common law
3 marriage.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 1103 of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
8 § 1103. Common-law marriage.
9 (a) Not valid.--This part [shall not be construed to change
10 the existing law with regard to common-law] constitutes the sole
11 legal method for contracting marriage in this Commonwealth.
12 Common-law marriage is not recognized as valid in this
13 Commonwealth.
14 (b) Other jurisdictions.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), if
15 a right, obligation or liability under the laws of this
16 Commonwealth depends upon whether a common-law marriage has been
17 contracted in another jurisdiction, the law of that jurisdiction
18 shall apply to the determination of whether the common-law
1 marriage has been contracted.
2 Section 2. The amendment of 23 Pa.C.S. § 1103 shall not
3 apply to a common-law marriage which is valid under the laws of
4 this Commonwealth in effect on the effective date of this act.
5 Section 3. This act shall take effect in one year.
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