Перевод в сфере семейного права

UNIT 2

Conlusion of Marriage( II).

Participation of Foreign Citizens in Family Relations.

Recognition of overseas marriages.

VOCABULARY

decree absolute решение суда, окончательно и безусловно вступившее в силу

decree nisi условное решение суда; предварительное решение суда (вступает в силу с определенного времени, если до этого не будет оспорено или отменено)

decree of nullity судебное решение о признании ничтожности (брака) voidable for impotence оспоримый с связи с неспособностью commencement of proceedings возбуждение производства по делу

extra-judicial 1)внесудебный; совершенный во внесудебном порядке 2) выходящий за пределы данного дела 3) не относящийся к юрисдикции данного суда

forum-shopping поиск «удобного» суда, манёвры с выбором судебного форума pervasive 1. проникающий, распространяющийся повсюду 2. всеобъемлющий, глубокий (о влиянии и т.п.)

Task 1. Match the terms on the left (1-7) with their definitions on the right (a-g). Translate definitions into Russian.

Task 2. a) Look up for the Russian equivalents or provide your own counterparts for the following.

The Gender Recognition Act

The Mental Health Act

The Matrimonial Causes Act

The Marriage Act

The Legitimacy Act

b) Read the text and translate it paying attention to the words and grammar structures in bold orally.

Grounds on which a marriage is void

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Recognition of an Overseas Marriage

A marriage contracted overseas (in other words, out of the jurisdiction of the UK) may be recognised as valid in England and Wales under the Family Law Act 1986, provided: each of the parties has the capacity to marry according to his or her place of domicile; and the formalities required by the law of the place where the marriage was celebrated were complied with. An overseas marriage celebrated by local custom may be recognised, as it was in M.cCabe v. McCabe [1994] 1 FLR 410, where a marriage which had taken place in Ghana (involving a bottle of whisky and a sum of money) was upheld as valid, with the result that the petitioner was entitled to a divorce in the English courts. Special rules apply in certain cases, for instance where a party is serving in HM Forces .

A same-sex marriage entered into legally overseas will not be recognised by the courts in England and Wales as being a valid marriage in the UK - although it may be recognised as a valid civil partnership. This is so, even though it is now possible for same-sex couples to enter into a civil partnership in the UK .

Task 4. Study the Russian Family Code Section VII, articles 156-159:

a)make your own glossary of the legal terms in English. Look up for their Russian counterparts. Compare it with your fellow-student’s, discuss and complete.

b)Student A: Translate the questions into English.

Student B: Answer the questions in English.

1.Законодательство какой страны определяет порядок и условия заключения брака при участии в нем “иностранного элемента”?

2.Относится ли это к лицам, имеющим два и более гражданства? К лицам без гражданства?

3.Как осуществляется заключение браков в дип.представительствах и консульских учреждениях?

4.Каковы правила в отношении браков, заключенных за пределами РФ?

5.Может ли такой брак быть признан недействительным?

Task 5. Study the text of Chapter II of the ‘Convention on celebration and recognition of the validity of marriages”. Translate it into Russian in written form paying attention to the grammar constructions in bold.

CHAPTER II - RECOGNITION OF THE VALIDITY OF MARRIAGES

Article 7

This Chapter shall apply to the recognition in a Contracting State of the validity of marriages entered into in other States.

Article 8

This Chapter shall not apply to -

(1)marriages celebrated by military authorities;

(2)marriages celebrated aboard ships or aircraft;

(3)proxy marriages;

(4)posthumous marriages;

(5) informal marriages.

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Article 9

A marriage validly entered into under the law of the State of celebration or which subsequently becomes valid under that law shall be considered as such in all Contracting States, subject to the provisions of this Chapter.

A marriage celebrated by a diplomatic agent or consular official in accordance with his law shall similarly be considered valid in all Contracting States, provided that the celebration is not prohibited by the State of celebration.

Article 10

Where a marriage certificate has been issued by a competent authority, the marriage shall be presumed to be valid until the contrary is established.

Article 11

A Contracting State may refuse to recognize the validity of a marriage only where, at the time of the marriage, under the law of that State -

However, recognition may not be refused where, in the case mentioned in sub-paragraph 1 of the preceding paragraph, the marriage has subsequently become valid by reason of the dissolution or annulment of the prior marriage.

Article 12

The rules of this Chapter shall apply even where the recognition of the validity of a marriage is to be dealt with as an incidental question in the context of another question.

However, these rules need not be applied where that other question, under the choice of law rules of the forum, is governed by the law of a non-Contracting State.

Article 13

This Convention shall not prevent the application in a Contracting State of rules of law more favourable to the recognition of foreign marriages.

Article 14

A Contracting State may refuse to recognize the validity of a marriage where such recognition is manifestly incompatible with its public policy ("ordre public").

Article 15

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This Chapter shall apply regardless of the date on which the marriage was celebrated.

However, a Contracting State may reserve the right not to apply this Chapter to a marriage celebrated before the date on which, in relation to that State, the Convention enters into force.

Task 6. Student A: Insert the prepositions and translate the sentences into Russian. Student B: Listen to the Russian sentences of student A and do a backward translation.

1.States often require some ceremony, registration or similar formality … distinguish marriage

…other relationships and … impress this distinction … the parties … well … their families and their communities.

2.Consent requirements refer … the consent … the spouses’ families .. traditional marriages or

…consent … the spouses … a modern marriage.

3.Marital status has public consequences, such ... nationality or citizenship status, eligibility ...

insurance coverage, entitlement to social security., intestacy, and inheritance rules.

4.Marital status also has private, social consequences, such ... the recognition .. the community

... the couple ... a household unit.

5.One underlying purpose ... formalities is .. assure that the parties’ marital status is known ...

the community and ... the public ... large.

6.In the West, consent requirements are satisfied ... the parties’ sworn statements that they are entering ... the marriage voluntarily, along ... the absence ... any obvious condition vitiating such consent.

Task 7. Provide the English equivalents for the word combinations in Russian:

1.Concern about undermining the institution of marriage is raised when law reform or reform giving more prominence to (брачные договоры) is discussed.

2.In addition to having a (способность вступать в брак), the parties must satisfy certain (условия, необходимые для вступления в брак).

3.Like divorce, an annulment is granted in two stages: (условное решение суда ) followed by ( решение суда, окончательно и безусловно вступившее в силу ). Only on the grant of decree absolute is the marriage annulled.

4.(Не имеющий юридической силы брак ) is one that is void ab initio. A decree of nullity is not technically necessary( для расторжения недействительного брака ), but it is useful because it gives the court jurisdiction to make finance and property orders.

5.As far as the children are concerned, a child born after a void marriage is treated in law as a (рожденный в браке ) if at the time of conception one party reasonably believed that the marriage was valid.

6.“A marriage celebrated after 31st July 1971 shall be voidable on the following grounds only,

a)that the marriage has not been (заключен) owing to the (неспособностью какой либо из сторон) to consummate it; … .

Task 8. Translate from Russian into English.

1.Всякое нормальное международное сотрудничество предполагает признание государствами браков, заключенных за рубежом, чтобы лица, заключившие брак в одной стране, считались супругами всюду. Российское законодательство устанавливает правила признание браков, заключенных за рубежом .

2.Браки, заключенные за рубежом, в которых один из супругов или оба супруга являются

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3. Подобно России, большинство зарубежных государств устанавливают самостоятельное коллизионное регулирование браков с участием иностранцев. Как правило,

национальные правопорядки форму брака подчиняют собственному закону, а условия вступления в брак - закону гражданства (Италия, Германия и др.) или домициля (Австралия, Англия).

4.Поэтому при вступлении российскими гражданами в брак за рубежом условия брака, в том числе требования к возрасту, для них будут определяться по российскому праву (как праву гражданства, или домициля), а форма и порядок - по законодательству cоответствующего иностранного государства.

5.Вместе с тем, если в зарубежном государстве условия вступления в брак подчинены lex loci celebratiоnis, то и для граждан России эти условия будут определяться правом этого иностранного государства, а не российским.

6.В том, что касается формы, в большинстве стран признается лишь брак,

зарегистрированный в государственных органах. Напротив, в некоторых государствах возможна лишь религиозная форма брака.

7.Существуют и такие страны, в которых возможна как церковная, так и светская форма брака, а выбор остается за будущими супругами (например, Швеция). Наконец, в некоторых штатах США (в 14 штатах и округе Колумбия) и в некоторых провинциях Канады признаются браки по общему праву (common law marriage). При их заключении не требуется соблюдения каких-либо формальностей, когда лица живут вместе как муж и это очевидно для других.

8.Доктрина браков по общему праву (common law marriage), все еще действующая во многих штатах США, часто используется для придания действительности браку, который изначально являлся недействительным.. Такой подход действует не везде в США, а лишь в штатах, которые признают действительность браков по общему праву.

(В.А.Канашевский. Международное частное право, с. 532-533)

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UNIT 3

Divorce

VOCABULARY

ancillary 1) дополнительный; акцессорный; сопутствующий; вспомогательный; подчинённый 2) судопроизводство по второстепенному вопросу в одной юрисдикции в помощь судопроизводству по существу иска в другой юрисдикции

defended divorce развод при возражении против него со стороны ответчика undefended divorce развод при согласии на него со стороны ответчика reconciliation 1) согласование (счетов) 2) примирение, улаживание desertion 1) оставление (напр. жены) 2) дезертирство; оставление поста subsistence 1) существование 2) средства к существованию 3) пропитание judicial separation постановление суда о раздельном жительстве супругов

limping marriage «хромающий брак», полудействительный брак (действительный в одном месте и недействительный в другом)

acknowledgment of service (form) признание факта вручения судебного документа constructive юридически подразумеваемый, конструктивный, неопровержимо презюмируемый, существующий в силу неопровержимой презумпциитермина

Task 1. Read the text and interpret it paying attention to the words and grammar constructions in bold:

The Current Law of Divorce in the UK

The law of divorce is laid down in the Matrimonial Causes Act (MCA) 1973, Part I of which deals with obtaining a divorce (or an annulment or judicial separation), and Part II with finance and property orders on divorce (annulment or judicial separation). Procedural rules governing divorce are found in the Family Proceedings Rules 1991.

Divorce is obtained by means of what is essentially an administrative , paper exercise. It can be granted in a matter of weeks without the need, in most cases, for either party to attend court. Sorting out ancillary matters (property, finance and children), if the parties cannot reach agreement, takes much longer. Obtaining a divorce is a twostage process. A decree nisi of divorce must be obtained first, followed by a decree absolute. Only on the grant of decree absolute is the marriage terminated. The procedure for defended divorces is different, but divorces are rarely defended. The parties to a divorce are called the 'petitioner' and the 'respondent’.

The jurisdictional rules for hearing a petition for divorce (or for nullity or judicial separation) in the courts in England and Wales are laid down in s.5 Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973 and Council Regulation (EC) (No. 2201/2003) Concerning Jurisdiction and the Recognition and

Enforcement of Judgments in Matrimonial Matters and in Matters of Parental Responsibility (Brussels II Revised). The rules are complex , but in very general terms the courts in England and Wales have jurisdiction to grant a divorce if either spouse is domiciled in England or Wales when the proceedings are begun, or is habitually resident in England or Wales throughout the period of one year ending with the date on which proceedings are begun.

Divorce proceedings cannot be commenced within the first year of marriage (s.3(1) MCA 1973). This is an absolute bar - there is no discretion to waive it. Despite the one-year bar, a petitioner can base the divorce petition on matters which happened during the first year of marriage (s.3(2)). A decree of nullity or of judicial separation can, on the other hand, be sought during the first year of marriage.

The Ground for Divorce and the Five Facts

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Under Part I of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 there is only one ground for divorce, which is that the marriage must have irretrievably broken down (s.l(l)). To establish irretrievable breakdown, the petitioner must prove the existence of one or more of the following five 'facts'. In common parlance, these are mistakenly referred to as the 'grounds ' for divorce:

The Five Facts for Divorce

Section 1(2) of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 requires the petitioner to prove to the court " that:

'(a) the respondent has committed adultery and the petitioner finds it intolerable to live with the respondent;

(b)the respondent has behaved in such a way that the petitioner cannot reasonably be expected to live with the respondent;

(c)the respondent has deserted the petitioner for a continuous period of at least two years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition;

(d)the parties to the marriage have lived apart for a continuous period of at least two years

immediately preceding the presentation of the petition ... and the respondent consents to a decree being granted; or

e) the parties to the marriage have lived apart for a continuous period of at least five years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition.'

If a 'fact' is proved, the court must grant a decree nisi of divorce unless it is satisfied that the marriage has not irretrievably broken down . The court must be satisfied that the marriage irretrievably broken down, and that at least one of the above five facts is proved.

Task 2. Translate the text in written form.

Adultary

Adultery involves an act of voluntary heterosexual intercourse between two people who are not married to each other, but at least one of whom is married. For the purposes of a divorce, adultery is usually proved by the respondent acknowledging adultery on the Acknowledgment of Service form. Where there is no admission of adultery, proof of adultery is needed, for which the degree of proof has been held to be slightly higher than on the balance of probabilities.

In addition to proving adultery, the petitioner must also prove that he or she finds it intolerable to live with the respondent . This requirement was added to buttress the stability of marriage (a policy aim of the law), so that an act of adultery would be insufficient on its own to end a marriage. The Court of Appeal has held that, as adultery and intolerability are two separate and unrelated facts, the tolerability need not relate to the adultery. The test of intolerability is a subjective one, namely whether the particular petitioner finds it intolerable to live with the respondent, not whether a reasonable petitioner would so finish it. In practice, the petitioner must simply answer the question 'Do you find it intolerable to live with the respondent?'

Behaviour

The petitioner must prove that the respondent has behaved in such a way that the petitioner cannot reasonably be expected to live with the respondent. Although this fact is commonly referred to as 'unreasonable behaviour', this is a misnomer, because under s.l(2)(b) it is the effect of the respondent's behaviour on the petitioner which is relevant, not whether the respondent's behaviour is unreasonable. The test for establishing unreasonable behaviour is objective, as the court must establish whether the petitioner can reasonably be expected to live with the respondent, but it is also subjective in that the court must consider the effect of the respondent's behaviour on the particular petitioner.

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In Birch v. Birch [1992] the wife petitioned for divorce on the basis of her husbands unreasonable behaviour claiming that his "attitude to her was dogmatic, nationalistic and dictatorial”. She said that she was sensitive and had taken a passive role during their 20-year marriage, and had put aside her own interests until the children had grown up. Her petition was dismissed, but the Court of Appeal allowed her appeal and granted a decree because the judge had used an objective test when the correct test was a subjective one.

Divorces are granted for a wide range of behaviour, including both acts and omissions. In O'Neill v O'Neill, for example, the petitioner stated that her husband had a withdrawn personality, had doubted the paternity of their children, and had spent two years “improving” the matrimonial home, which included mixing cement on the living-room floor and leaving the lavatory door off for about eight months. Financial irresponsibility can constitute unreasonable behaviour, and so can violent or drunken behaviour.

What if the Behaviour is not the Respondent's Fault?

Sometimes the court will have to decide, whether to grant a divorce where the behaviour is not the respondent's fault, for example, where the respondent is mentally or physically ill. Whether a divorce will be granted depends on the circumstances of the case, and, although, the court will be cognisant of the fact that marriage entails a commitment which includes caring for a sick spouse, it is likely to be sympathetic to the plight of a petitioner and the fact that illness can place severe strains on a marriage. A divorce may therefore be granted even though a respondent is not responsible for his or her own 'behaviour'. Thus, in Katz v. Katz [1972] the wife succeeded in obtaining a decree where her husband suffered from manic-depression. In Thurlow v. Thurlow [1976] the wife, an epileptic, suffered from a severe neurological disorder. She was bed-ridden and bad-tempered, threw objects at her husband and wandered the streets causing him distress. He worked full-time and found it difficult to care for her, and the stress affected his health. Rees J granted a decree.

Desertion (s. (2)(c)) The respondent must have deserted the petitioner for a continuous period of at least two years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition. Divorces based on desertion are rare. To divorce on the basis of desertion, there must be: factual separation; an intention by the respondent to desert; no consent by the petitioner to the desertion;and no just cause to desert.

Constructive desertion is possible, in other words where a spouse's behaviour is so bad that the other spouse is forced to leave the home. Desertion is also possible even if the parties are living under the same roof. To encourage reconciliation, a period of up to six months’ resumed cohabitation does not prevent the desertion being continuous.

Task 3. Listen to the teacher and translate the text sentence by sentence.

Divorce Procedure

Divorce procedure differs according to whether a divorce is undefended or defended. In practice, virtually all divorces are undefended - because of the expense and futility of defending a divorce. The rules of procedure are laid down in the Family Proceedings Rules (FPR) 1991.

1) Undefended Divorce

An undefended divorce is obtained by way of what is essentially a paper exercise. There is usually no need for the parties, or their legal representatives to attend court. The Divorce Petition is the central document in proceedings, as it informs the respondent and the court of the basis on which the petitioner is seeking a decree of divorce and of the orders that he or she will be seeking as part of the divorce. To commence divorce proceedings , the petitioner (the, spouse seeking the divorce) must present a divorce petition to a divorce county court alleging that the marriage has irretrievably broken down and alleging at least one of the five facts. The petition cannot be presented to the court before one year has expired from the date of the marriage This is a strict rule. However, anything that happened during that one-year period (such as evidence of unreasonable behaviour or adultery) can be used as evidence in the divorce proceedings.

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The decree nisi of divorce does not terminate the marriage. It is terminated only on the grant of the decree absolute, which is automatically granted on the application of the petitioner, who can apply for it six weeks or more after decree nisi . A fee must be paid. If the petitioner fails to apply for the decree absolute, the respondent may apply at any time after three months have elapsed from the earliest date on which the petitioner could apply for it . However, the court cannot grant the respondent a decree absolute without a hearing and adjudication by a judge or district judge, after giving at least four-days' notice of the hearing to the petitioner . These rules are strict. If a decree absolute is obtained in breach of the rules, the divorce is void .

2) Defended Divorce

Defended divorce proceedings begin in the same way as an undefended divorce, but the respondent in the Acknowledgement of Service indicates an intention to defend. Notice of intention to defend must be given within seven days from service of the petition inclusive of the day of service. Such an indication does not of itself cause the proceedings to become defended, but must be followed by the filing of an answer within 21 days after the expiry of the time-limit for giving notice of the intention to defend (that is, within 28 days of service of the petition). There is then exchange of pleadings by counsel and the hearing takes place in open court with oral evidence being given and cross-examination of both parties.

Task 4. Provide the Russian (part A) and the English (part B) equivalents of the following.

B.принимать заявление о расторжении брака; находиться на рассмотрении, в судопроизводстве; изменить супругу; укрепить брак; примирение; улаживание семейных конфликтов; быть призанным судом безвестно отсутствующим; приказ суда в отношении улаживания имущественных интересов супругов; реально существующий, настоящий брак.

Task 5. Study the Russian Family Code Chapter 4, articles 16-26 and make your own glossary of the legal terms in English (see the Appendix). Look up for their Russian counterparts. Compare it with your fellow-student’s, discuss and complete. Answer the questions:

1.Are the grounds for divorce and the procedure for the Russian divorce the same or different compared to the UK?

2.What are the most important differences?

Task 6. Provide the English counterparts for the Russian ones. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1.An (развод при согласии на него стороны ответчика) is obtained by means of what is essentially an administrative exercise.

2.It can be ( получен, удовлетворен) in a matter of weeks without the need, in most cases, for either party to attend court.

3.Sorting out (второстепенные вопросы) (property, finance and children), if the parties cannot reach agreement, takes much longer.

4.Obtaining a divorce is a twostage process. A (условное решение суда) of divorce must be obtained first, followed by a (решение суда, окончательно вступившее в силу) , on the grant of which is the marriage terminated.

5.Under Part I of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 there is only one ground for divorce, which is that the marriage must (не подлежать восстановлению) .

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