Estate of Issa CA4/1

INTRODUCTION

May Issa Lorah (May) and Marwan Mark Issa (Marwan) appeal an order

establishing Sabah E. Malek (Sabah) is entitled to status as the putative spouse of their

deceased father, Murched Mike Issa (Murched), and estopping them from asserting the

invalidity of the marriage in pending probate proceedings.1 May and Marwan

(collectively appellants) contend: (1) the trial court did not have jurisdiction under

Health and Safety Code section 103450 to determine putative spouse status; (2) there is

no substantial evidence to support the court's finding of putative spouse; and (3) estoppel

does not apply to the facts presented in this case. We find no merit in these contentions

and affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A

When Sabah met Murched through mutual friends in Lebanon in 2002, Sabah was

52 years old and a highly educated professor of mathematics teaching in her home

country of Lebanon. She obtained numerous degrees from Lebanese University in

subjects such as mathematics and computer science and later attended American

University of Beirut where she received a graduate degree in education and a teaching

diploma. She passed a test of English as a…