Belliveau v. Whelan
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The Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the judgment of the district court dismissing Mark Belliveau's complaint for divorce from Janet Whelan because the parties were never legally married, holding that the court did not err by declining to adopt the putative spouse doctrine or the doctrine of marriage by estoppel.
For twenty-six years, the parties in this case held themselves out to be a married couple. Belliveau ultimately filed a complaint for divorce. Whelan sought to dismiss the complaint, asserting that the parties were never legally married. The court agreed with Whelan and dismissed the complaint. The Supreme Judicial Court affirmed after declining Belliveau's request that the Court adopt one, or both, of two equitable doctrines, holding (1) the parties did not comply with the statutory requirements to enter into a valid marriage; and (2) the adoption of either the putative spouse doctrine or the doctrine of marriage by estoppel would be an infringement on the Legislature's function.
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