Marriage a civil contract.

  1. Law
  2. Nebraska Revised Statutes
  3. Households and Families
  4. Marriage a civil contract.

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42-101. Marriage a civil contract.

In law, marriage is considered a civil contract, to which the consent of the parties capable of contracting is essential.

Source

  • R.S.1866, c. 34, § 1, p. 254;
  • R.S.1913, § 1540;
  • C.S.1922, § 1489;
  • C.S.1929, § 42-101;
  • R.S.1943, § 42-101.

Cross References

  • Agreements based on consideration of marriage, must be written, see section 36-202.
  • Child whose parents marry is legitimate, see section 43-1406.

Annotations

  • 1. Nature of contract

  • 2. Agreement of parties

  • 3. Validity of marriage

  • 4. Common-law marriage

  • 5. Miscellaneous

  • 1. Nature of contract

  • Although this section denotes marriage as a "civil contract," persons entering into matrimony establish a social status, not a contractual relation. Edmunds v. Edwards, 205 Neb. 255, 287 N.W.2d 420 (1980).

  • Where consent is obtained by fraud, marriage may be annulled. Zutavern v. Zutavern, 155 Neb. 395, 52 N.W.2d 254 (1952).

  • Marriage is a civil contract which, if procured by fraud, may be set aside. Hudson v. Hudson, 151 Neb. 210, 36 N.W.2d 851 (1949).

  • State is always a party. Willits v. Willits, 76 Neb. 228, 107 N.W. 379 (1906).

  • Consent of state is necessary. Eaton v. Eaton, 66 Neb. 676, 92 N.W. 995 (1902).

  • Marriage is a social status, and only in a limited sense is the relation contractual. University of Michigan v. McGuckin, 64 Neb. 300, 89 N.W. 778 (1902).

  • 2. Agreement of parties

  • Consent of parties mentally competent is required. Kutch v. Kutch, 88 Neb. 114, 129 N.W. 169 (1910).

  • Mental weakness alone does not avoid contract. Aldrich v. Steen, 71 Neb. 33, 98 N.W. 445 (1904).

  • 3. Validity of marriage

  • It is not a ground for annulment that license was wrongfully obtained where parties are competent and marriage is fully consummated. Baker v. Baker, 112 Neb. 738, 200 N.W. 1003 (1924).

  • Marriages valid in Indian tribe under Indian customs, are valid here. Ortley v. Ross, 78 Neb. 339, 110 N.W. 982 (1907).

  • Marriage is valid where minds of competent parties meet. University of Michigan v. McGuckin, 62 Neb. 489, 87 N.W. 180 (1901).

  • Where marriage is celebrated in good faith, it is binding though parties had agreed it should not be. Hills v. State, 61 Neb. 589, 85 N.W. 836 (1901).

  • 4. Common-law marriage

  • Since 1923, common-law marriages cannot be made in this state. Collins v. Hoag & Rollins, 122 Neb. 805, 241 N.W. 766 (1932), reversing 121 Neb. 716, 238 N.W. 351 (1931).

  • 5. Miscellaneous

  • Agreements to separate are against public policy. Brun v. Brun, 64 Neb. 782, 90 N.W. 860 (1902).


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