All the principles of private international law (it might more properly be called The Law of Situs) will be found to group themselves under one or the other of these heads. The branch of the law herein discussed, though of daily growing importance, is at present in a most chaotic condition. Comparatively few points may be regarded as settled. The courts too frequently fail to rest their decisions upon sound foundations of reason and principle; they are too often inclined to indulge in vague generalities and dicta, without analyzing the transaction before them into its elements, and applying the law of the situs of each element to determine its effect. It has been my constant aim to reduce every proposition to its ultimate principles, for only by this means can order be brought out of the confusion that now exists. In some instances I have been forced to cite decisions which, while supporting the conclusions to which they are cited, have reached those conclusions by fallacious courses of reasoning. If the principles enunciated in this work shall aid in illuminating even a few of the many dark places to be found along the path, I shall be more than gratified. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, January, 1901. R. C. M. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE 1 1 2 EXCEPTIONS TO THE APPLICATION OF A FOREIGN LAW § 5. General Grounds upon which the Exceptions are based - 15. Effect of Transactions completed and perfected under LEGAL SITUS OF THE PERSON, OR THE DOMICIL. § 19. Domicil, National, Quasi-National, or Municipal . 20. Domicil distinguished from Mere Residence 21. Domicil distinguished from Nationality or Citizenship. 22. The Legal Situs or Domicil of the Person 28. II. Only One Domicil at a Time. 29. III. Domicil retained until another is acquired 37. Domicil of Legitimate Child - Father Alive 38. Same-Father Dead, Mother Surviving 39. Effect of Remarriage of the Mother 42. Constructive Domicil of an Illegitimate Child 43. Constructive Domicil of Child subsequently Legitimated - 71. Business Capacity in General 72. Voluntary Transactions Capacity to Contract 77. The Contract of Marriage - Formal Validity 78. Substantial Validity of Marriage Contract. 79. The Marriage Status or Matrimonial Union - - Its Com- 172 81. Marital Rights in Personalty of Consort - In Absence |