HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-22-06
August 21, 2006
Ms. Glenda Farner Strasbaugh
Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans Court
One Courthouse Square
Carlisle, P A 17013-3387
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Re: Marriage License Application for
Todd Harper and Tracey Watkins
715 Old Silver Spring Road
Mechanicsburg, P A 17055
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We applied for a Self-Unity Marriage license in Cumberland
County in accordance with 23 Pa.C.S.A.S150l, 1502, 1503. We were told
that the Cumberland County Register of Wills is not allowed to issue Self-
Unity Marriage licenses at the directive of David Cleaver, State Solicitor for
the State Association of Register of Wills on the basis of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania no longer recognizing Common Law Marriages and
therefore we were instructed to obtain the license issued us.
We have since found out that in the state of Pennsylvania, Self-
Unity marriage licenses have nothing to do with common law marriages in
accordance with PNC Bank Corp. v. WCAB (Stamos), 831 A.2d 1269 (Pa
Cmwlth.2003)., and we were able to obtain a self-unity marriage license
from Dauphin County Register of Wills. Therefore, we are requesting a
refund of the marriage license fee from Cumberland County, Register of
Wills.
By copy to David Cleaver, State Solicitor, we are requesting
your review of your directive, as the State Solicitor for the Commonwealth
ofPA, given to Pennsylvania Register of Wills to cease making available to
the public the right to obtain Self-Unity Marriage licenses. It is evident that
"someone's" interpretation of the law is incorrect and needs to be addressed
and the public should not be penalized for an inconsistent interpretation of
the law. We would like to have this issue addressed as soon as possible, as
we intend to marry on September 1, 2006 in a self-unity service, which is yet
still legally binding in the State of Pennsylvania.
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Thank you both (Glenda Famer Strasbaugh & David Cleaver)
for your immediate attention to this matter.
In addition, because this is of utmost important and the average
citizen would not be able to sort through this maze, the attention of our state
representative(s) d state senator to this matter is being requested.
Sincerely, ,~
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Mr. Todd Harper & Tracey Watkins
715 Old Silver Spring Road
Mechanicsburg, P A 17055
Cc: David Cleaver
Penn State, The Dickinson School of Law
150 South College Street
Carlisle, PA 17013-2899
Hon. Glen R. Grell
5521 Carlisle Pike, Suite 2-D
Mechanicsburg, P A 17050
(717) 795-6091
Fax: (717) 795-6094
Hon. Glen R. Grell
6 East Wing
Harrisburg, P A 17120-2020
(717) 783-2063
Fax: (717) 705-1942
Hon. Jerry L. Nailor
2929 Gettysburg Road, Suite 6
Camp Hill, P A, 17011
(717) 761-4665
Fax: (717) 731-7126
Hon. Jerry L. Nailor
Room 18 East Wing
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Harrisburg, P A 17120-2020
(717) 783-5282
Fax: (717) 772-2279
Hon. Bruce Smith
Fairview Industrial Park
540B Industrial Drive
Lewisberry, P A, 17339
(717) 938-4988
Fax: (717) 938-6399
Hon. Bruce Smith
East Wing Room 41 A
Harrisburg, P A 17120-2020
(717) 783-8783
Fax: (717) 705-1885
HON. Patricia H Vance
Senate Box 203031
187 Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Fax: (717)772-0576
(717) 787-8524
3806 Market Street
Camp Hill, PA 17011
(717) 975-1985