In the 1910 case of Jacobs v. Beecham, the United States Supreme Court addressed a dispute over inheritance rights under English law. The plaintiff, Mrs. Jacobs, was an American citizen who had married her deceased husband in New York and lived with him there until his death. After he died without leaving a will, she inherited his estate as per New York law but faced challenges from Mr. Beecham who claimed that since her late husband was originally from England and not naturalized in America before his death, English laws should apply instead which would exclude Mrs.Jacobs from inheriting due to their marriage being void under British laws (as they were uncle and niece). The court ruled in favor of Mrs.Jacobs stating that it is up to each state to determine its own rules regarding inheritance rights within its jurisdiction; thus validating her claim on the property as per New York's succession laws.

The dissenting opinion in the Jacobs v. Beecham case argued that the majority's decision was incorrect because it failed to consider certain key aspects of contract law. The dissenting justices believed that a valid contract had been formed between Mr. Jacobs and Mrs. Beecham, despite her subsequent marriage to another man, as she had not explicitly revoked or altered this agreement before entering into matrimony with Mr. Beecham. They also disagreed with the majority's interpretation of English common law regarding contracts made by women who later marry; they contended that such agreements should remain enforceable unless expressly nullified by the woman upon her marriage, rather than being automatically invalidated as per the majority ruling.