and Breach of Promise to Marry -
CHAPTER 19 ABOLITION OF ACTIONS FOR ALIENATION OF AFFECTIONS AND BREACH OF PROMISE TO MARRY Sec. 1901. Actions for alienation of affections abolished. 1902. Actions for breach of promise to marry abolished. 1903. Purpose of chapter. 1904. Filing or threatening to file actions prohibited. 1905. Instruments executed in satisfaction of abolished claims prohibited. Enactment. Chapter 19 was added December 19, 1990, P.L.1240, No.206, effective in 90 days. § 1901. Actions for alienation of affections abolished. (a) General rule.--All civil causes of action for alienation of affections of husband or wife are abolished. (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) does not apply to cases where the defendant is a parent, brother or sister or a person formerly in loco parentis to the spouse of plaintiff. § 1902. Actions for breach of promise to marry abolished. All causes of action for breach of contract to marry are abolished. § 1903. Purpose of chapter. (a) General rule.--No act done within this Commonwealth shall give rise, either within or without this Commonwealth, to a cause of action abolished by this chapter. (b) Contract to marry.--No contract to marry which is made within this Commonwealth shall give rise, either within or without this Commonwealth, to a cause of action for breach of the contract. (c) Intention of section.--It is the intention of this section to fix the effect, status and character of such acts and contracts and to render them ineffective to support or give rise to any such causes of action, either within or without this Commonwealth. § 1904. Filing or threatening to file actions prohibited. It is unlawful for a person, either as litigant or attorney, to file, cause to be filed, threaten to file or threaten to cause to be filed in a court in this Commonwealth any pleading or paper setting forth or seeking to recover upon any cause of action abolished or barred by this chapter whether the cause of action arose within or without this Commonwealth. § 1905. Instruments executed in satisfaction of abolished claims prohibited. (a) Contracts and instruments void.--All contracts and instruments of every kind executed within this Commonwealth in payment, satisfaction, settlement or compromise of any claim or cause of action abolished or barred by this chapter, whether the claim or cause of action arose within or without this Commonwealth, are contrary to the public policy of this Commonwealth and void. (b) Execution and use prohibited.--It is unlawful to cause, induce or procure a person to execute a contract or instrument proscribed by this chapter, or cause, induce or procure a person to give, pay, transfer or deliver any money or thing of value in payment, satisfaction, settlement or compromise of any such claim or cause of action, or to receive, take or accept any such money or thing of value in such payment, satisfaction, settlement or compromise. (c) Actions to enforce prohibited.--It is unlawful to commence or cause to be commenced, either as litigant or attorney, in a court of this Commonwealth any proceeding or action seeking to enforce or recover upon a contract or instrument proscribed by this chapter, knowing it to be such, whether the contract or instrument was executed within or without this Commonwealth. (d) Exceptions.--This section does not apply to the payment, satisfaction, settlement or compromise of any causes of action which are not abolished or barred by this chapter or to the bona fide holder in due course of a negotiable instrument.