North Carolina Divorce Lawyers Blog

Articles Tagged with marriage

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SHEPENYUK V. ABDELILAH, 2023-NCCOA-______ (2023)

  • Facts: Plaintiff and Defendant were “married.” On August 25, 2015, the parties were the host of a religious wedding ceremony officiated by Defendant’s brother. This brother was not ordained or legally authorized to officiate a ceremony. The parties themselves failed to obtain a marriage license prior to the ceremony. Six years later, in September of 2021, Plaintiff filed for a domestic violence protective order and alleged that she and Defendant were not married. Multiple other pleadings, including complaints and answers/responses to a partition action as well as a complaint for equitable distribution (ED) and alimony were filed, wherein it was essentially admitted that the parties were not legally married. Plaintiff amended her ED and alimony complaint to ask that the court treat the parties as presumptively married. Defendant moved to dismiss. Trial court dismissed for lack of a claim for which relief could be granted, finding that the parties were not married and an “equitable marriage” theory was unwarranted.

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Lukas Gage, an up-and-coming actor, and Chris Appleton, a renowned hairstylist, recently tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Las Vegas. The couple, who have been together for several years, exchanged vows in front of close family and friends, including celebrity guests Kim Kardashian and Shania Twain. 

The ceremony took place at the famous Little White Wedding Chapel, which has been the site of many celebrity weddings over the years. Kardashian, who is a close friend of the couple, officiated the wedding and shared photos and videos of the special day on social media.  Continue reading →

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A question that sometimes arises in family law is whether a marriage in North Carolina was valid. Here, we discuss one of the prerequisites of marriage: solemnization before a proper officiant. 

The statute can be found below: 

  • 51-1. Requisites of marriage; solemnization. 

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