Wife's Status When Husband Claimed Brother but Family Ties Were Fabricated

From: Rabbi Moshe Sofer

To: Unknown recipient

Description

A childless man who claimed throughout his life to have a brother died without giving a get, potentially binding his wife to yibum; investigation showed his claimed family connections in Fürth were fabricated. The Chasam Sofer exhaustively examines multiple grounds for leniency — chezkas heter, single-witness testimony, the husband's own hearsay report of the brother's death, and the husband's demonstrated intent to give a get — but finds serious halachic difficulties with each avenue and ultimately cannot permit the wife to remarry, deferring to a greater authority.

Source: Shu"t Chasam Sofer EH II §72

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