YEO & KEE

In the matter of *Yeo & Kee*, Gill J of the Family Court of Australia was required to determine the validity of a marriage and to make orders regarding divorce. The dispute concerned a marriage purportedly entered into in 2007 in City B, Country C, which was later registered in 2008 at Suburb D, City E, Country C. A separate marriage was also entered into in 2008 in New South Wales, Australia.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the marriage purportedly entered into in 2007 in Country C was valid under Australian law. A secondary issue was the appropriate orders to be made concerning the divorce of the parties, given the existence of two purported marriages.

Gill J declared the marriage between Ms Yeo and Mr Kee, purportedly entered into in 2007 in Country C, to be invalid. The court reasoned that the requirements for a valid marriage under Australian law were not met in relation to this union. Consequently, the court made a divorce order in relation to the marriage entered into in New South Wales in 2008, to take effect and terminate the marriage on a specified date in 2017.