Bethell v Hildyard 38 Ch.D. 220. [1885 B. 2119.] is an important legal judgment of the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice, England. Validity of Foreign marriage, Harvard Law Review Vol. 25, No. 4, Feb 1912 p374. The matter heard before Justice Striling concerned succession to property by the child of a marriage contracted by Christopher Bethell, an English man in Bechuanaland South Africa with Teepoo, a Barolong woman according to the customs of the Baralong people. Bethell v Hildyard 38 Ch.D. 220.
The marriage was held not to be a valid marriage according to the law of England because the customs of the Baralong people permitted polygamy. The child was held not entitled to succeed to her father's property.
Related cases Warrender v. Warrender Hyde v Hyde Hussain v Hussain (1983) Fam 26. Corbett v Corbett
See also Legal status of polygamy List of polygamy court cases Void marriage
References