Sardonis v. Sardonis

The petitioner invokes the Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act (G. L. 1956, chap. 11 of title 15) to obtain support for her two children both of whom are under the age of 18. A Family Court justice found that she and the respondent were validly married at common law and that he was the father of her two children. The respondent' was ordered to pay $40 a week for the children’s support and he appealed. He argues initially that the Family Court lacked jurisdiction under the Act to decide questions relating either to the validity of the common-law marriage or to the parenthood of the children.…