A century-old New York law that validated a marriage if it was consecrated with a religious ceremony regardless of whether the couple obtained a license is outdated, a Manhattan judge ruled in dismissing a divorce proceeding.

The statute, Domestic Relations Law §25, was the central issue in Devorah H. v. Steven S., 304187/14, in which the plaintiff, Devorah H., filed for divorce from Steven S.

The pair had a brief Jewish wedding ceremony held in a rabbi's office. Steven argued it was not a real wedding, and thus the two were never married.