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The new claimant applied for disabled widow’s insurance policies advantages on worker’s income list, nevertheless Secretary declined their unique software as claimant don’t meet up with the nine-week years-of-relationship requirement inside the 42 You. 416(c). That it denial try kept by the district legal. The fresh claimant up coming appealed towards U.S. Legal out-of Appeals toward Earliest Circuit. New judge away from appeals listed that Puerto Rico will not recognize common-law marriage ceremonies and therefore certain requirements to possess establishing a legitimate relationships inside the Puerto Rico are prepared forward when you look at the Post 69 of Civil Code, 30 L.P.R.An excellent. § 231. New legal found that, in such a case, the requirements of Article 69 was demonstrably perhaps not found 9 weeks prior to the worker’s passing. The brand new legal after that discovered that brand new claimant’s constitutional “equal cover” assault to the nine-times cycle-of-relationship requirement was incorrect not as much as Weinberger v. Salfi, 422 U.S. 749, 95 S.Ct. 2457, 45 L.Ed.2d 522 (1975), and you may Mathews v. de Castro, 429 You.S. 181, 97 S.Ct. 431, fifty L.Ed.2d 389 (1976). New claimant including argued you to, due to the fact she try the new worker’s concubine, she got a right not as much as Puerto Rican law so you can inherit out of the fresh worker’s property as the his widow, and you will she might be considered becoming the widow of your personnel below 42 U. 416(h)(1)(A). The court from appeals unearthed that, less than Puerto Rican legislation, an effective concubine out-of a worker has actually a directly to a percentage of the property obtained throughout concubinage however, do not have a right to inherit an namoriscar emojis effective widow’s share of one’s dead worker’s intestate private assets. Thus, the new claimant cannot feel considered getting this new widow of the latest staff member around 42 U. 416(h)(1)(A) by applying of legislation from Puerto Rico into the intestate series. Within the maintaining the new area court’s choice affirming the latest Secretary’s denial from this claim to possess widow’s positives, brand new court away from is attractive stored the claimant wasn’t titled so you’re able to positives because disabled widow of one’s employee.
She argued you to definitely, while the she additionally the employee got cohabited having twenty years earlier in the day toward date of its ceremonial matrimony, its cohabitation got switched their matchmaking for the an appropriate relationships really up until the 9-month several months
Appellant Esther Ayuso Morales desired Societal Cover impairment positives reliant their unique reputation since “widow” of your insured employee Honorio Montanez Figueroa. Not as much as 42 You. § 416(c) so you’re able to meet the requirements as the good “widow” a female need been partnered for at least nine weeks during the time of her husband’s death. Appellant’s matrimony occurred in the 9-day several months. Advantages have been rejected.
On the attract, she cravings one this woman is however eligible since the she cohabited which have their particular husband to possess two decades before their marriage. She adds you to definitely, in any event, lower than 42 U. § 416(h)(1)(A) a candidate try a widow in the event the she would, “in statutes . . . [regarding Puerto Rico] choosing the fresh devolution away from intestate personal possessions, have the same standing . . . because the a spouse . . . [or] widow. . . .” Discover basically, Rombauer, Marital Standing and you can Qualification for Government Legal Income Positives: An old Questionnaire, 52 Clean.L.Rev. 227, 257 mais aussi. seq. (1977). She says your concubinage law away from Puerto Rico gets their own like reputation.
We can’t accept appellant’s very first dispute. We understand you to definitely some traditional laws jurisdictions know low-ceremonial otherwise “common law marriages.” This type of marriages are made by the agree of the functions due to the fact every other offer. F.W. Kuchlar, Legislation from Wedding and Relationship step 1-5 (2d ed. 1978); see O.Elizabeth. Koegel, Common-law ent in america (1922). However, common-law marriage ceremonies aren’t recognized for the Puerto Rico. The latest requisites off a valid relationship during the Puerto Rico are prepared ahead for the Post 69 of your Civil Password, 29 L.P.Roentgen.An effective. § 231. Included of these requisites ‘s the “[a]uthorization and you can celebration regarding a matrimonial bargain according to the variations and you will solemnities prescribed for legal reasons.” Regarding absence of these types of variations and solemnities, there can be no relationships. Rivera v. Area Judge out-of San Juan, 58 P.R.R. 352, 354 (1941); Vazquez Bote, Notas sobre el matrimonio durante derecho puertoriqueno, 49-56 Rev. P.R. 491, 493-94, 510-12 (1973-75). E. Lalaguana Dominguez, Estudios de derecho matrimonial 244-45 (1962).
