Palimony

Palimony is the division of financial assets and real property on the termination of a personal live-in relationship wherein the parties are not legally married. The term palimony is not a legal or historical term, but rather a colloquial portmanteau of the words pal and alimony.

The word was coined by 'celebrity' divorce attorney Marvin Mitchelson in 1977 when his client Michelle Triola Marvin filed an unsuccessful suit against the actor Lee Marvin.[1] While the suit was unsuccessful in this instance, the courts found that "in the absence of an express agreement, courts may look to a variety of other remedies to divide property equitably."[2] It is unclear as to how many states currently expressly forbid any kind of palimony to be awarded – that is to say, how many states allow both partners in an unmarried cohabitation, to expressly keep all that is under their own name, including income and property. But it is widely recommended by legal offices across the country that prior to committing to an unmarried but romantic cohabitation, the couple should enter into a legal cohabitation agreement prior to moving in together.[3]

Background

Unlike alimony, which is typically provided for by law, palimony is not guaranteed to unmarried partners. There must be a clear agreement, written or oral, by both partners stipulating the extent of financial sharing or support in order for palimony to be granted. Palimony cases are determined in civil court as a contract matter, rather than in family court, as in cases of divorce.[4] In the State of New Jersey, palimony cases are tried in Family Court.

In states that recognize palimony, there is variance in the factors that are taken into consideration by the court and the weight that these factors are given:[5]

  • Cohabitation
  • Length of the relationship
  • Commitment between partners that one would financially provide for the other for life
  • Promises between partners that can be proven
  • Written financial agreements
  • Ability of the plaintiff to support themselves financially
  • Giving up a career to provide services such as care of the home or children
  • Sacrifices made by one partner to put the other partner through college
  • Disparity in income

Oral or implied contracts are often taken into consideration also.

In 1983, only three states legally rejected palimony.[6]

Marvin v. Marvin

Michelle Triola spent several years living with actor Lee Marvin. After their breakup, she legally adopted the surname Marvin despite never having been married to him, and claimed he had promised to support her for the rest of her life. In the end, in Marvin v. Marvin, the California Supreme Court ruled that Triola had not proven the existence of a contract between herself and Mr. Marvin that gave her an interest in his property. Thus, the common law rule applied to the situation without alteration, and she took away from the relationship and the household what she brought to it.

The Court went on to explain that while the state abolished common law marriage in 1896, California law recognizes non-marital relationship contracts. These contracts may be express or implied, oral or written—but they must be provable in any case. The contract may also provide for a sexual relationship as long as it is not a contract for sexual services. Eventually, the California Court of Appeal ruled that since Michelle Triola and Lee Marvin never had a contract, she was not entitled to any money.[7]

Due to the notoriety of the case, subsequent lawsuits involving cohabitating but unmarried parties trying to enforce promises of support or property rights came to be known as Marvin actions or Marvin claims.[8]

Notable cases
  • Rock musician Peter Frampton was sued by Penelope J. "Penny" McCall in 1976. McCall asked for half of Frampton’s earnings during the five years that they were together. According to McCall, she gave up her job as a rock promoter and devoted herself full-time to Frampton, right at the time that he achieved superstar status. A New York judge ruled that Frampton and McCall never intended to marry each other and "never held themselves out to the public as husband and wife" and dismissed her complaint on the grounds that to act otherwise would condone adultery. The case set precedent in New York state.[9][10]
  • Tennis player Billie Jean King was sued by Marilyn Barnett in 1981.
  • In 1982, world-famous piano virtuoso Liberace's 22-year-old former chauffeur and live-in lover of five years, Scott Thorson, sued the pianist for $113 million in palimony after he was let go by Liberace. The case was settled out of court in 1986, with Thorson receiving a $75,000 cash settlement, plus three cars and three pet dogs worth another $20,000.
  • Tennis player Martina Navratilova was sued by Judy Nelson in 1991.
  • In 1996, Van Cliburn was sued by former partner Thomas Zaremba for a share of his income and assets following a 17-year relationship ending in 1994. Zaremba's palimony case was dismissed for lack of written agreement, along with claims for emotional distress and that Cliburn subjected him to the fear of AIDS through Cliburn's alleged unprotected liaisons with third parties.[11][12]
  • In 2004, comedian Bill Maher was sued for US $9 million by his ex-girlfriend, Nancy "Coco" Johnson.[13][14][15] On May 2, 2005, a California Superior Court judge dismissed the case.[16][17]

See also

References
  1. Marvin v. Marvin (1976) 18 C3d 660. Retrieved on 2008-03-01
  2. EL. "Marvin v Marvin". onebriefs.com. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  3. EL. "4 Tips for Avoiding Palimony". Law Offices of.... Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  4. Granat, Richard (2008). "Property Rights of Unmarried Couples in New York". New York Divorce Law. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  5. EL. "Cohabitation..." Divorce360.com. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  6. EL. "Couples:..." The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  7. Laskin, Jared (18 April 2007). "California Palimony Law: An Overview". Law Office of Jared Laskin. Archived from the original on 2006-08-12. Retrieved 2006-10-04.
  8. "Brian P. LANZ, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Peter GOLDSTONE, Defendant and Appellant. A141694". caselaw.findlaw.com. 2015-12-29. Retrieved 2018-10-10.
  9. "Peter Frampton Leaves Mark on Divorce and Family Law". John K. Grubb & Associates, July 6, 2011. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  10. "Live-In Lovers' Quarrel". People, May 07, 1979. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  11. Linda Rapp. "Cliburn, Van (b. 1934)". glbtq.com. Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
  12. "Court grants Pianist's ex-Partner Chance to Amend Suit". AEGiS. National Library of Medicine. August 1997. Archived from the original on 2007-11-04. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
  13. "Maher: Ex Is Serial Shakedown Artist". The Smoking Gun. November 29, 2004.
  14. "The Fix ". Salon. November 30, 2004.
  15. Keller, Julie (November 30, 2004). "Bill Maher Cries 'Con'". E!.
  16. "Judge Dismisses $9M Lawsuit Against Bill Maher". Fox News/Associated Press. May 4, 2005.
  17. Hagan, Joe (April 9, 2012). “It Won’t Hurt You. It’s Vapor.” New York magazine. p. 6.

Further reading
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