The purpose of this project is to conduct research, draft a memorandum, evaluate and make recommendations relevant to a client’s case.

Course Outcomes Satisfied by this Project

• Gather information and evaluate situations to make recommendations for action in family law matters.
• Research and draft memos that identify and analyze family law issues.
• Draft writings and complete other documents to support the resolution of family law matters

Background: Attorney Carter is working with a client who wants to annul her marriage and pursue a breach of promise action against a former finance. Carter asks you to research, analyze and make recommendations regarding the client’s case. You are to respond to Carter in a memorandum.

Review the “Sample Legal Memorandum” and “How to Write A Legal Memorandum” links above.

The facts in the client’s case follow.

Facts: During her last year of high school, Alexandra Morris lived with her stepfather, her deceased mother’s husband, Derrick Carlson. Carlson did not require Alexandra to pay rent. After graduation from high school, Alexandra started dating a 30-year old man, Joseph Henry.

Joseph Henry repeatedly talked about their getting married when she turned 19 years old. Joseph and Alexandra set the wedding date on her 19^th birthday and began planning their wedding. Alexandra booked a caterer, rented a wedding hall, and hired a DJ for the wedding reception. The bills were piling up, but Alexandra had a full-time job and was using all the money she could scrape together to pay for the wedding.

Two months before the wedding, Alexandra discovered she was pregnant. When she shared the news with her fiancé, Joseph, he accused of her cheating on him and cancelled the wedding. Alexandra was devastated and worried about raising a child alone.

She went to her stepfather, Derrick, for solace. Her stepfather offered to marry her and raise the child as his own. There was plenty of time to get a new marriage license and keep the original wedding date. Alexandra agreed; she and Carlson were married in Maryland on her 19^th birthday.

Two months after their wedding, Alexandra realized that she had made a big mistake. She now wants to annul her marriage to Derrick Carlson and, if possible, to pursue a breach of promise action against Joseph Henry.

Alexandra, Derrick Carlson, and Joseph Henry are all residents of Maryland.

Instructions:

Research and draft a memorandum to Attorney Carter addressing Alexandra’s situation.

The memorandum should address the following questions based on Maryland statutory law:

(1) Is Alexandra Morris’ wedding to Derrick Carter legal?

(2) What are the potential punishments for entering an illegal marriage based on affinity?

(3) Does Alexandra Morris have an action for breach of promise to marry against Joseph Henry?

The memorandum should contain the following sections:

I. Questions Presented: presents questions in “yes” or “no” answer format

II. Short Answer: presents “yes” or “no” answers to the Questions Presented in sentence format

III. Statement of Facts: details the relevant facts of Alexandra’s case

IV. Applicable Law: merely lists in Bluebook format,” the authority used in the Discussion section of memorandum; any statutes used should be reproduced in this section

V. Discussion: analyzes and discusses the legal authority as it relates to the facts in Alexandra’s case

VI. Conclusion: provides a summary of findings on the issues presented and the future direction of the case

Format

INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM

TO: Anna Carter, Esq., Supervising Attorney

FROM: [Your Name], Paralegal

DATE:

RE: Alexandra Morris’ Marriage and Breach of Promise Action

I. Questions Presented

II. Short Answers

III. Statement of Facts

IV. Applicable Law

V. Discussion

VI. Conclusion

Review the Project

Thoroughly read the project to ensure all required elements are present. Use the grading rubric to ensure that you gain the most points possible for this assignment.

Proofread for spelling and grammatical issues, and third person writing.

• Use the spell and grammar check in Word;
• Have someone who has excellent English skills proof the presentation.

Submit the project in the Assignment Folder The assignment submitted to the Assignment Folder will be considered a student’s final product and therefore ready for grading by the instructor. It is incumbent upon the student to verify the assignment is the correct submission. Maryland Marriage Licence: https://www.findlaw.com/state/maryland-law/marylan…

Grounds for absolute divorce in Maryland: https://www.peoples-law.org/grounds-absolute-divor…

Uncontested Divorce: https://www.findlaw.com/family/divorce/uncontested…

Annulment: https://www.peoples-law.org/annulment