BUM-MARRIAGE DOCTRINE

bum-marriage doctrine.Evidence. The principle that the marital-witness privilege may not be asserted by a partner in a marriage that is in fact moribund, though legally valid. See marital privilege (2) under PRIVILEGE (3). [Cases: Witnesses  51. C.J.S. Witnesses §§ 147, 159, 163–164, 171, 173.][Blacks Law 8th]