Dajani v. Dajani

Opinion

CROSBY, J.

Will a California court enforce a foreign dowry agreement which benefits a party who initiates dissolution of the marriage? No.

I

Awatef and Nabil Dajani married by proxy in Jordan in 1982. At that time husband resided in the United States. Wife subsequently joined him in Orange County in 1983, and the couple married in a civil ceremony. Wife petitioned for dissolution of the marriage in 1985. The primary issue at trial was husband’s obligation, per the terms of the foreign proxy marriage contract,1 to pay wife’s dowry.2

Wife testified the contract called for a dowry of 3,000…