New York State Joint Legislative Committee on Matrimonial and Family Laws Reports to the Legislature

The Committee on Matrimonial and Family Laws was created by concurrent resolution of the Senate and Assembly (Senate Resolution 33; Assembly Resolution 55) in 1956 and continued in 1957 by Senate Resolution 93 and Assembly Resolution 122. It was charged with investigating and preparing a study of the adequacy of existing statutes of procedure in matrimonial and family actions; reviewing the jurisdiction, rules, operations, and practices of various courts in the state in this area; and making recommendations for revisions in laws governing legal procedures, jurisdiction, rules and operations. Citing an increase in divorces and annulments and "widespread" fraud, collusion, and perjury in matrimonial actions and procedures, the Legislature charged the committee with making recommendations that would "improve the administration of justice" in those areas and "preserve the marital relationship and the family unit."

This series consists of carbon copies of two reports submitted to the Legislature. The reprints include studies and recommendations for the following topics: the rate of matrimonial or family court actions; foreign decrees affecting the marital status of New York citizens; separation agreements; fraud, collusion and perjury; conciliation; adoptions; support-maintenance and alimony.

Also included is a comparative study of state judicial procedures, laws, and regulations; a report to the 3rd Grand Jury Court of General Sessions, County of New York, on fraudulent matrimonial actions (November 1948 term); and two studies on matrimonial and family actions prepared by the Brooklyn Law School and St. Thomas More Institute for Legal Research of St. John's University School of Law Study. The text is occasionally edited in pencil.

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