Comity
Comity is the legal principle under which a Florida court chooses to recognize and respect the laws, judgments, or court orders of another state or country, even though it is not strictly required to. In divorce matters, comity can come up when a marriage or a divorce decree originated in another jurisdiction. Florida courts apply it as a matter of mutual respect and fairness, not obligation, and may decline if recognition would violate Florida public policy.
Last updated June 21, 2026
Legal Definition
A discretionary doctrine by which a court extends recognition to the legislative, executive, or judicial acts of another jurisdiction out of deference rather than legal compulsion, subject to consistency with the forum state's public policy.
Example
The Florida judge applied comity to recognize the couple's foreign marriage when ruling on their dissolution.
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