Vervaeke v Smith [1983]

Key Points:

• Case Background:

◦ The married couple had only met a few times.

◦ The primary aim of the marriage was to secure British citizenship and avoid deportation.

• Marriage Validity:

◦ Despite the marriage being arranged primarily for immigration purposes, it was upheld as valid.

Impact and Analysis:

• Legal Interpretation:

◦ This case illustrates that marriages conducted for purposes such as obtaining citizenship, even if they are not based on personal relationships, can still be considered legally valid.

• Precedent Setting:

◦ It confirms that the validity of a marriage is not necessarily contingent on the personal relationship between the parties but on the legal recognition of the marriage contract.