United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Rice v. Rice, 336 U.S. 674 (1949)

Rice v. Rice

No. 117

Argued December 14, 1948

Decided April 18, 1949

336 U.S. 674

Syllabus

After being domiciled in Connecticut, respondent's husband went to Nevada, where he obtained a divorce decree without personal service upon, or participation in the proceedings by, her. He immediately married petitioner, but died shortly thereafter without having returned to Connecticut. In a suit brought by respondent to determine the widowhood status of the parties, the Connecticut courts, having placed upon respondent the burden of proving that decedent had not obtained a bona fide domicile in Nevada, which was sustained by adequate evidence after a full trial, declined to give effect to the Nevada decree.

Held: having given proper weight to the claims of power by the Nevada court, the courts of Connecticut did not deny full faith and credit to the Nevada decree. Pp. 336 U. S. 674-676.

134 Conn. 440, 58 A.2d 523, affirmed.

In a suit for a declaratory judgment, a Connecticut court adjudged a Nevada divorce decree void for want of jurisdiction. The State Supreme Court of Errors affirmed. 134 Conn. 440, 58 A.2d 523. This Court granted certiorari. 335 U.S. 842. Affirmed, p. 336 U. S. 676.