Proceedings in Adoption, Annulment, or Divorce: Confirmation in Accordance With Recognized Custom

Proceedings in Adoption, Annulment, or Divorce: Confirmation in Accordance With Recognized Custom. (a) When an adoption, annulment, or divorce has been effected in the Commonwealth in accordance with recognized custom and its validity is questioned or disputed by anyone in a manner so as to cause serious embarrassment to or affect the property rights of any of the parties or their children, any party thereto or any of the party’s children may bring a petition in the Commonwealth Trial Court for a decree confirming the adoption, annulment, or divorce effected in accordance with recognized custom. The petition shall be signed and sworn to by the petitioner personally. (b) If, after notice to all parties still living and a hearing, the court is satisfied that the adoption, annulment, or divorce alleged is valid in accordance with a recognized custom in the Commonwealth, the court shall enter a decree confirming the adoption, annulment, or divorce and may include in this decree the date it finds the adoption, annulment, or divorce was absolute until the period for appealing has expired without any appeal having been filed or until any appeal taken shall have been filed or until any appeal taken shall have been finally dispatched. Source: 39 TTC § 5. Commission Comment: Section 4 of PL 6-25, the “Commonwealth Judicial Reorganization Act of 1989,” provides that “[w]herever the term ‘Commonwealth Trial Court’ appears in the Commonwealth Code, it is henceforth to be interpreted and understood to refer to the Commonwealth Superior Court.”