SESSION 1: INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY LAW 

 
Family  law  protects  ​family  as  a  fundamental  unit,  as  it  is  the  ​best  interest  of the society. As stated for 
example, in art. 32 & 39 Sc and art. 6,8,12 & 14 ECHR. 
 
Regulation: 
 
- Mandatory law 
- Rights and obligations vs ​powers and duties 
- duties: 
→ moral content in art. 65 &855 SCC 
→ for example in Art. 226.2-227.1 & 228 of the Criminal Spanish Code 
- Random legislation, EU reunification law shapes the concept of family. 
 
Meddling of the state: ​justification.​ Why and how? Regulation and jurisdiction. 
Formalities 
Change of status 
 
SESSION 2: WHAT IS A FAMILY? SOCIAL AND LEGAL CONCEPT 
 
Objective: 
 
1. To analyse the social and legal concept of the family:  
Ordinary legislation. Shapes narrow and promotes a form of family.  
- For  example  the  Council  Directive  2003/86/EC  of  22  September  2003  on  the  right  to 
family reunification and others.   
- Polygamy: art. 4  
 
2. Examine the harmonising EU approach to the concept of family and limits: 
- Art. 8,12 & 14 ECHR:  
Freedom: balancing public order & harmonization. 
The case of gay families on Oliari Case. 
Surrogacy: case of Paradiso and Campanelly vs Italy 
 
Articles defining these concepts: 
 
Article 8: Right to respect for private and family life 
1. Everyone  has  the  right  to  respect  for  his  private  and  family  life,  his  home  and  his 
correspondence. 
2. There  shall  be  no  interference  by  a public authority with the exercise  of  this  right  except  such 
as  is  in  accordance  with  the  law  and  is  necessary  in  a  democratic  society  in  the  interests 
of  national  security,  public  safety  or  the  economic  well-being  of the country, for the prevention 
of  disorder  or  crime,  for  the  protection  of  health  or  morals,  or  for  the  protection  of  the  rights 
and freedoms of others 
 
Article 12: Right to marry 
Men  and  women  of  marriageable  age  have  the  right  to  marry  and  to  found  a  family,  ​according  to  the 
national laws governing the exercise of this right 
 

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Article 14: Prohibition of discrimination 
The  enjoyment  of  the  rights  and  freedoms  set  forth  in  this  Convention shall be secured without 
discrimination  on  any  ground  such  as  sex,  race,  colour,  language,  religion,  political  or  other 
opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status 
 
Conclusions: 
 
- Given  its  moral  and public order, positive national law has broad discretion to regulate family life 
and which adult unions should be considered family as a relationship that deserves protection. 
- The  EU  is  sensitive  enough  to  understand  that  the  concept  must  be  shaped  by  national 
legislation,  since  what  constitutes  a  family  is  a matter of public order closely linked to the culture 
and morals of each country.  
- The  courts  have  a  duty  to  adapt  the  concept  to  new  realities  on  a  case-by-case  basis,  but 
Regulation  is  necessary  in  order  to  protect  family  realities. The evolution of case law alone is not 
enough  and,  in the long run, will create uncertainty. We cannot delegate not even in common law 
systems the regulation to the courts. 
- The law must adapt to social changes  
- The  approach  used  to  analyse  the  concept  of  family  is  the  functional  approach  :  What  does  a 
family do? The limit: public order.  
- Marriage is no longer the only form to found a legal family; other forms of family are protected..  
- Equality is paramount in the development of the concept.  
 
 
SESSION 3: Legal Family  
  
Family: social institution that exits regardless of the law 
Natural fundamental group and is entitled to be protected by society and state 
  
Legislation:  
Art. 16 ECHR: fam is natural and fundamental group of units of society and entitled to protection 
Art. 12 ECHR: right to marry and to form a family 
Art. 14 ECHR: limit to discretion (no discrimination): regulate marriage but no discriminate  
  
Historically, marriage has been the way to create a legal family.  
The  court  has  a  very  important  role  when  defining  the  law.  Family  is  such  an  important  element  for 
society that it is essential to be regulated.  
Marriage is no longer the only form of legal family: other forms are also protected. 
  
Civil partnership 
  
= as Civil unions, de facto couples (people that stay together outside marriage) 
  
What is it? Stable union between two people. It is resemblance of a marriage, and they share existence and 
life, take care of each other and raise children.  
People that don’t want to enter to marriage, nor be subject to the regulation that it carries.  
  
The  case  of  Spain:  gay  marriage  2005:  There  is  gay  marriage  and  unilateral  divorce  in  this  case.  In Spain 
there  is  no  national  legislation  about  partnership,  so  no  references.  So,  each  autonomous  community 
regulates it, therefore it is different in each of the 17.  

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The  Spanish  law  states  for  example  that  if  there  is  a  conflict between a couple that has been together for 
20 years in a partnership, and the supreme court, they say: if they do not get into an agreement it passes to 
the national law (and as in Spain we don’t have, it is up to the law in each autonomous communities).  
  
Marriage: 
Art 16 UCHR UN:  
Men  and  women  of  full  age,  without  any  limitation  due  to  race,  nationality  or  religion,  have  the  right  to 
marry  and  to  find  a  family.  They  are  entitled  to  equal  rights  as  to  marriage,  during  marriage  and  at  its 
dissolution.  (2)  marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. 
(3)  the  family  is  the  natural  and  fundamental  group  of  unit  of  society  and  is  entitled  to  protection  by 
society and the state.  
  
Def:  stable  union  between  two  people  intended  for  life  to  live  a  share  exitance  for  which  formalities are 
needed.  
Marriage:  institution  (cultural universal, which means that it is present as a social institution in all cultures) 
/ semi-public contract. 
  Today:  recognised  it  as  an  special  relationship:  other  forms  of  legal  families,  which  freedom,  trend  for 
non-fault and able to unilateral divorce.  
  
National law regulates:  
-  Rights  and  obligations  of  married  couples  –  ex:  ownership  of  marital  property,  parental 
duties, married name 
- Formalities and recognition of religious and civil marriages 
- Pre-requisites for marriage and the legl capacity of the spouses 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Session 5: Effects of marriage 
  
  
Effects of marriage: 
  
1. ​PERSONAL EFFECTS: ​CHECK ART. 66-67-68-71 SCC:  
Act in the best interest of the family:  duty of respect , live together, have a family home, financial 
aid , share family duties towards children , be faithful, assist each other ,etc..  
•  Are  these  duties/obligations  enforceable?  What  are  the  legal  effects  attached  to 
these duties?   
• Can the spouses dispose of these duties, Can they be subject of prenup? No. 
  
2. PATRIMONIAL EFFECTS:  
•  ​A)  SYSTEMS  WITH  MANDATORY  MATRIMONIAL  REGIMES  (CIVIL 
LAW SYSTEMS). 

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 •  CONCEPT  of  matrimonial  regime  (E​conomic  systems  of  the  marriage​):  ​Rules 
that  govern  the  ownership,  administration  and management of private and common assets 
and  liabilities  during  the  marriage  and  the  distribution  of  common  assets  upon 
termination of the marriage.  
•  The effects of these rules are displayed, both, during the marriage 
and upon termination.  
•  Principles  that  guide  the  regulation:  Freedom  of  stipulation**/ 
Equality between the spouses and Flexibility.  
  
• MAIN TYPES OF REGULATION:   
•  Title-based”  regimes  of  property:  assets  are  ​owned  according  to 
who holds ownership title of each asset. ​Absolution separation.  
•  Community  property  regimes:  implies  the  existence  of  marital 
assets commonly own by spouses​. 
  
•  ​B)  SYSTEMS  WITH  NO  MATRIMONIAL  REGIMES  ​(COMMON  LAW 
SYSTEMS):  based  on  separation  of  property  with  equitable  legal  distribution  of 
assets  that  upon  divorce  are  re-classified  as  matrimonial.  Marriage  does  not  affect 
ownership​. 
  
BEFORE WE START: A reminder on co-ownership of THINGS​.  
1.  ROMAN  COMMUNITY  (TENANCY  IN  COMMON)  =  The  ​comuneros  (the  partners)  each  owns  a 
part/share /quota of the THING. 
2.  GERMAN  COMMUNITY  (JOINT  TENANCY).  Not  divided  into  quotas.  The co-ownership exists 
until the community is extinguished *** if so, equal shares. 
  
  
A.​ ​SYSTEMS WITH MATRIMONIAL REGIMES 
  
Civil  law  systems;  generally,  the  regulation  is  combined  with  regulation  of  legal  heirs  :  the 
surviving spouse, and children being a legal heirs.  
•  Concept: The «economic system of marriage» or «matrimonial regime» is the group of rules 
stated by the law to regulate the different ​patrimonial issues a​ rising from the matrimony.  
Art. 1.315 et seq. SSC 
Prenup: Art. 1325 et seq. SSC 
  
• ​MAIN TYPES of REGIMES 
Default rules in parties do not chose in the prenup agreement: E.g: Art. 1316 et seq. SSC  
-  Community  of  gains  ​(Community  property´s  regime-  Joint  tenancy  of 
after-acquired  marital  property-  Community  of  acquest-  Community  of 
accrued gains regime).  
Countries  that  have  regulated  it  as  a default regime: Among others, Belgium, Brazil , 
Chile , Colombia, Czech republic , France , Germany , Italy, Malta and Spain. 
  
- ​Absolute separation ​(Title-based” regimes of property) .  
Countries  that  have  regulated  it  as  a  default  regime:  among  other,  Greece,  Israel, 
Iran, Jordan Lebanon, Ireland and Japan.   
  

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 -  ​ articipation regime (mix system) ​where the spouse whose income is lower 
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at  the  end  of  the  marriage  has  the  right  to  received  half  of  gains  of  the  other 
spouse 
E.G:  
A´s income at the beginning 10 ud and 10 ud at the end : 0 ud gain  
B´s income at the beginning 6 ud and 10 ud at the end. Total gain 4 ud 
A has the right to received ½ of the 4 ud gained by B.  
  
  
  
Study of the community of gains regime as an matrimonial economic regime 
  
Classification of assets/ownership things:  
  
• Private/exclusive assets: art 134 1346 et seq. SSC. Absolute separation.   
•  ​Common  Assets​.  Art.  1.347  SSC  ​held  in  a  Joint  Tenancy  until  termination  of 
marriage.   
• Specific Rules: Art. 1.348 et seq. SSC. + E.g 1.359 SSC 
  
Management and liabilities. Art. 1362 et seq SSC and Art. 1375 et seq. SSC   
  
Termination of the regime: can be because Death or Divorce  
-  ​Effects:  Joint  tenancy  terminates  -Tenancy  in  common  arises.  50/50 
shares.   
-  Payment  of  creditors,  compensation  between  spouses  and  the  common  pot ( 
art.  1359  SCC)  ,  and  distribution  of  common  assets  :  50/50  .  Art.  1392  et  seq. 
SSC   
  
B.​ ​ SYSTEMS WITH MATRIMONIAL REGIMES 
  
No effects during the marriage. There is an absolute separation. 
Equitable  distribution  of  marital  assets  upon  divorce.  Aim:  parties  should  leave  the  marriage 
financially in the same terms (fairness). 
Marital  assets  (common  law)  may  include  inheritance,  donation  and  assets  prior  marriage. 
Generally  regulated  in  common  law systems and combined with inheritance rules where freedom 
of disposal mortis causa prevails. 
  
- USA: 
Bezo´s  case:  He  and  her  wife  married  without a prenup agreement. So if no prenup, 
default rule applies: 
They  agreed  and  that  agreement  was  acceptable  for  the  court.  They  understood  the 
division was fair. 
Freedom of disposal and non-matrimonial regimes.  
  
- UK: 
During  the  marriage,  the  starting  point:  the  spouses  are  equal  parties  in  a  marriage 
and  should  share  “the  fruits  of  the  matrimonial  partnership”  equally.  No  definition 
of marital property (discretion of the court). 
Civil law system: matrimonial regime 

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 Common law: no system, just some principles and court has discretion 
Starting point for a financial division on divorce: nullity or judicial separation is 50:50 
is still good law for the majority of cases. 
  
The decision in Sharp v Sharp 2017 tells us that the principle of a 50/50 split will not 
automatically  be  applied  in  every  case.  A  departure  from  the  principle  equal sharing 
was justified so as to achieve fairness 
  
Prenups: 
  
Tool to decide which regime to apply.  
Content: division and ownership of property  
Limits:  public  order,  moral  and  law:  a  prenuptial agreement cannot be used to determine issues regarding 
child custody, child visitation rights, or child support payments. 
Formalities needed: independent advice, full disclosure, written requirement and registration 
  
Different ways to address prenup 
  
-  US:  federal  law  which  is the uniform premarital and marital agreement act 2012. Guideline 
for the prenup agreement to be valid. 
-  UK:  they  don’t  believe  prenups  agreement  can  solve  anything.  Marriage  should  be  long 
enough,  so  it  is  not  possible  to  regulate  what  will  happen  to  the  marriage  when  it  finishes 
from the beginning.  
Court  can  and  will  change  the  terms  made  by  the  parties  if  it  would  not  be  fair  to hold them to 
their agreement 
  
  
Session 6: Divorce 
  
Introduction​: 
It is a process for legal and formal dissolution of marriage. 
  
Issues we have to consider when analysing a divrce case​: 
  
1. Change of status: Decree of divorce :​ ​ national law 
- fault  divorce  and  litigious​:  petitioner  must  show  the  irretrievable  breakdown  of 
marriage (ground for divorce) 
- new trend ( human rights)​ = non fault divorce- fast track- unilateral divorce.  
→ Who can grant a change of status ? Form : Judgment / Notary public.* 
  
2. Liquidation of the marital assets :​ different systems: 
- Mandatory Economic Regime and  
- non mandatory regime.   
→  Role  of  prenups  .  Which  ones  are  marital  assets?  Principle  :  ​Fair  distribution  and/or 
equitable distribution of marital assets​ ( Sharp v Sharp UK ). 
 
3. Reorganising  the  family  life:  this  entails  the  cancelling  or  reorganizing  of  the  legal  duties  and 
responsibilities and the creating obligations post marriage:  

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 →  compensation  ,  custody  (  ​trend = Share custody) ​, visiting  rights  and child support and or 
alimony. 
  
How to solve the legal conflicts? 
 
1. Contentious:​ the judge decides 
2. Settlement: ​Agreement between the spouses validated by the judge. 
3. Mediation:  ​ADR.  →  “Tailor  made  settlement”  :  limits  of  autonomy  of  will,  nullity  ,  consent, 
legal capacity etc..) 
→ Is it enforceable? Yes, by the Court . 
- Formalities: Public Deed = directly enforceable by the judge. No need for validation.  
- The issue with minor children.  
 
Case study: Divorce of Carlos and Maria 
 
Facts: 
Maria and Carlos (Spanish and living in Segovia) married in ​November 2010​ being Maria pregnant.  
Maria´s personal assets before the wedding were: 
- 100.000 EUROS in a bank deposit. Interest accrued since the marriage: 20.000 EUROS. 
- A house inherited from her grandmother 300.000 EUROS. 
Carlos´s personal assets before the marriage ceremony were: 
- 75.000 € company shares. Today´s value 65.000 €.  
 
In  January  2011​,  Maria  gave  birth to twins. The couple agreed that Carlos would take care of the kids and 
stop  working.  Also,  all  family  living  cost  and  expenses  since  May  2010  has  been  financed  by  Maria´s 
income. 
In  January 2010​, Carlos bought the family home (price 250.000 EUROS). He paid 50.000 EURO with the 
money  he received as the indemnity for damages suffered in a ​car accident in 2007. The rest of the money 
was paid after they got married with Maria´s income (mortgage). 
Last  year,  they  bought  a  house  in  Málaga  worth  150.000  €.  They  paid  the  house  with  Maria´s  last  work 
bonuses. 
Carlos´s  uncle  ​passed  away  in  2020.  Carlos  inherited  1  Mill  €.  He  bought  two  apartments  with  the 
inheritance.  He  has  rented  these  apartments  making  a  net  profit  of  50.000 € in 2020. Carlos has invested 
this  money  in  the  constructions  of  a  second  floor  in  the  house  in  Malaga.  The  value  of  the  property  in 
Malaga has increased up to 225.000 €. 
 
Issue​: 
Spanish law applies. SCC - Carlos wants to divorce and seeks your advice. 
a. How would personal and/or family assets be distributed? 
b. Could  Maria  and  Carlos  agree  or settle how to distribute the assets and/or on any other personal 
or economic effects resulting from divorce?  
c. Has  Carlos  a  right to alimony or compensatory pension for having gave up his career to take care 
of the children?  

Study of the case: 

 
How would personal and/or family assets be distributed? 
 
We will first determine the applicable law and jurisdiction for the case: 

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→ they did not chose any determined system on their prenups, so the default one will apply: 
- Applicable law and jurisdiction: Default rule 
- Article  1316  SCC  :  In  the  absence  of  a  nuptial  agreement,  or  if it were to be ineffective, 
the system shall be the community of acquisitions during marriage. Regulated 1344 et seq 
- Article  1344  SSC:  By  means  of  the  community of acquisitions during marriage any gains 
or  profits  obtained  indistinctly  by  either  spouse  become  common  to  both  spouses  and 
shall be allocated by halves upon dissolution thereof. 
 
- Classification of Exclusive and Common assets 
- Articles : 1346 and 1347 et seq. 
 
Based  on  these  articles,  we  must  determine  how  will  the  distribution  of  assets  be  done  and  submit  hte 
information,  for  example,  on  a  table  like  this,  to  the  client:

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   →  each of the spouses is entitled to that amount of money, on the 
way  they  chose:  by  receiving  assets,  or  some  of  them  may  not  want  a  house,  then, they must receive the 
corresponding economic compensation for it. 
 
 
Could  Maria  and  Carlos  agree  or settle how to distribute the assets and/or on any other personal 
or economic effects resulting from divorce?  
→ How? By settlement agreement. 
 
- Content Art. 90 SCC 
Care  of  the  children  subject  to  the  parental  authority  of  both  spouses,  the  exercise  thereof  and 
the  schedule  of  communications  and  stays  of  the  children  with  the  parent  who  does not usually 
live with them. 
 
- Art. 92 joint custody. public prosecutor. Art. 92- and 159 et seq 
b)  If  deemed  necessary,  the  schedule  of  visits  and  communications  between  grandchildren  and 
grandparents, always considering the interests of the former. 
c)Attribution of the use of the family dwelling and appurtenances. 
d)Contribution  to  the  expenses  of  the  marriage  and  support,  the  basis  on  which  it  is  to  be 
updated, and guarantees thereof, if applicable. 
e)​Liquidation,  if  applicable,  of  the  marriage  property  system.  As  far  as  they  can  get is to 
allocate the assets one way or the other, but they must do an equal sharing.  
f)Alimony to be paid, as the case may be, pursuant to Article 97, to one of the spouses. 
 
Has  Carlos  a right to alimony or compensatory pension for having gave up his career to take care 
of the children?  
 
- Article 97 
The  spouse  for  whom  the  separation  or  divorce were to give rise to an ​economic imbalance ​in 
relation  with  the  other’s  position,  involving  a  deterioration  of  his situation prior to the marriage, 
shall  be  entitled  to  compensation,  which  may  consist  of  a temporary or indefinite allowance or a 
lump sum settlement, as determined in the settlement agreement or in the judgment. 

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 →  ​In  the absence of an agreement between the spouses, the Judge shall determine, pursuant 
to  a  judgment,  the  amount  thereof,  considering  the  following  circumstances:  1.  Agreements 
reached  by  the  spouses. 2.  Age and state of health. 3.  Professional qualifications and likelihood 
of  getting  a  job.  4.  Past and future dedication to the family. 5.  Collaboration by working in the 
other  spouse’s  business,  industrial or professional activities. 6.  The duration of the marriage and 
of  their  marital  cohabitation.  7.  The  possible  loss  of  pension  rights;8.  Economic  wealth  and 
resources and the needs of each spouse. 9. Any other relevant circumstance. 
- Article 99.   
At  any  time,  the  parties  may  agree  to  replace  the  alimony set by the Judge pursuant to Article 97 
by  the  constitution  of  a  life  annuity,  usufruct  over  certain  goods  or  payment  of  a  capital  sum in 
the form of ownership or cash. 
- Article 100: 
After  the  setting  of  the  alimony  and the bases to update it in the separation or divorce judgment, 
it  may  only  be  amended because of material alterations in the fortune of one or the other spouse. 
The  alimony  and  the  bases  to  update  it,  as  set  out  in  the  settlement agreement formalised in the 
presence  of  the  Court  Clerk  or  the  Notary  Public,  may  only  be  modified  by  a  new  agreement, 
pursuant to the requirements established in this Code. 
- Article 101: 
The  right  to  receive  the  alimony  shall be extinguished because of the removal of the cause which 
motivated it, or because of the beneficiary thereof marrying again or living with another person in 
a  situation  akin  to  marriage.  The  right  to  receive  the  alimony  shall  not  be  extinguished  by  the 
mere  fact  of  the  debtor’s  death.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the latter’s heirs may request the 
Judge  to  reduce  or  suppress  it  if  the  estate  cannot  satisfy  the  requirements  of  the  debt  or  if  it 
were to affect their right to a reserved share. 
 

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