D-E v A-G [1845]

Key Points:

• Case Background:

◦ The case centred on the definition of consummation in the context of marital validity and annulment.

• Legal Decision:

◦ The court defined consummation as involving sexual intercourse that must be “ordinary and complete,” emphasising that partial or imperfect intercourse does not meet the legal criteria for consummation.

Impact and Analysis:

• Definition of Consummation:

◦ This case clarified that consummation requires full and ordinary sexual intercourse, setting a clear standard for what constitutes a valid consummation in legal terms.

• Legal Precedent:

◦ It established a strict benchmark for consummation, influencing how courts assess the validity of marriage and grounds for annulment based on sexual relations.