Cottrell v. EBI Companies

Beginning with the premise that, for purposes of survivor’s benefits, cohabitation is analogous to marriage, the central inquiry becomes: What is to cohabitation what divorce is to marriage? A divorce, or a “dissolution” as it is referred to in this state, is generally defined as the termination of the marriage relationship. The law treats it as a complete severance of the husband and wife unit.

Thus, our function in this kind of case (in which we are required to conduct a de novo review) is to examine all of the evidence and to decide whether the parties ever intended to terminate their…