Doylestown, PA – On September 16, 2025, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania issued a precedential opinion in the case of Bordone v. Bordone. The ruling affirmed a lower court's decision to dismiss a husband's complaint for an annulment of a marriage that had taken place in 2000. The case was argued in court by Williams Family Law partner Susan J. Smith.

The case involves a husband, Ronald Bordone, and wife, Virginia Bordone (represented by Smith), who were married in Connecticut on August 10, 2000. They believed Virginia’s divorce from her prior husband had been finalized but unbeknownst to them, the divorce decree from that marriage was not formally entered by the court until the following day, August 11, 2000. In 2021, in the context of the present divorce proceedings, Ronald discovered the discrepancy and filed a complaint for annulment of the 2000 marriage, arguing that it was void under Connecticut law and should therefore be annulled. If he were to be successful in securing that annulment, Ronald would then reap the economic benefits of denying Virgina’s entitlement to alimony and significant claims she has to marital property, having been married for 25 years.

On October 28, 2004, the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County dismissed that complaint, finding that it would be "inequitable and against public policy and policy of law" to annul a marriage that the parties believed to be legal for over two decades.

Ronald then appealed to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, who in this new decision has now affirmed the lower court’s decision and ruled that the marriage was valid under Pennsylvania law since the marriage was entered into by both in good faith, and that they continued to live together as husband and wife for over 20 years after the impediment in question (the wife's previous marriage) was removed.

The court also maintained that Pennsylvania had a greater interest in the validity of the marriage than Connecticut did, as the parties and their four children are residents of Pennsylvania, where the divorce remains pending. “[T]he only connection the parties had to Connecticut,” the court wrote, “was that their wedding ceremony occurred [there].”

As a published opinion, this decision and its reasoning will now stand as a persuasive legal precedent in future cases, providing guidance to lower courts and attorneys on how to interpret and apply the law in similar situations. Smith was assisted in the matter by attorney Maris J. Weiner, who contributed to the brief.

With more than 30 years of experience, Smith has established herself as one of the top divorce and child custody attorneys in both Bucks County and southeastern Pennsylvania. She has been honored as a “Woman of the Year” by the Bucks County Bar Association, is named annually to the list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers and is recognized each year in the “Lawdragon Family Law 500” list, highlighting the country’s top attorneys for family and matrimonial law.

Williams Family Law is a premier family law firm that provides individuals with matrimonial and family law legal counsel and representation in complex high asset divorce, high income alimony/spousal support, complex child support, high-conflict child custody cases, cohabitation, grandparents’ custody rights, equitable distribution, marital settlement agreements, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, separation agreements, spousal support, matrimonial taxation issues and related legal matters. The practice at Williams Family Law centers on four core principles: experienced guidance, compassionate advice, powerful advocacy and knowledge of the local courts and counsel. To learn more, visit www.bucksfamilylawyers.com.