Перевод в сфере семейного права

6.For the purposes of a divorce, (супружеская измена) is usually proved by the respondent acknowledging adultery on the Acknowledgment of Service form.

7.To encourage (примирение восстановление брака) , a period of up to six months’ is necessary.

8.In Birch v. Birch [1992] the wife petitioned for divorce on the basis of her husbands (необоснованное, неразумное поведение).

Task 7. Fill in the gaps with the prepositions and translate from English into Russian.

1.Financial provision and property adjustment orders … favour the parties … the marriage can take effect, and orders …. settlement or variation … a settlement can take effect … respect … any child …. the family.

2.Divorce also has an effect … a will made …. either party …. the marriage; social security and pension rights and taxation are affected, and both parties lose rights ….. certain matrimonial legislation, ….particular rights …. occupation …. the home ('home rights').

3.However, …. far ….. children are concerned, each parent retains parental responsibility …. divorce and there is an obligation …. provide the children …. financial support.

4.Divorce proceedings cannot be commenced …. the first year … marriage; despite the one-year bar, a petitioner can base the divorce petition … matters which happened during the first year … marriage.

5.… the purposes … a divorce, adultery is usually proved …. the respondent acknowledging adultery …. the Acknowledgment … Service form.

6.The marriage is terminated only … the grant … the decree absolute, which is automatically granted … the application …. the petitioner, who can apply … it six weeks or more after decree nisi.

Task 8. Match the terms on the left (1-6) with their definitions on the right (a-f). Translate the terms into Russian.

ground for divorce. One party alleges that the other has behaved so unreasonably that they cannot be expected to continue to live with them.

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Task 9. A) Student A: translate the questions into English.

Student B: translate the answers into Russian.

Каковы основания для расторжения брака на территории РФ?

The irretrievable breakdown of marriage is still the only formal ground for a divorce. Mutual consent is not considered to be a separate ground for divorce. However, since in the Family Code of 1995 the power of the state authorities to investigate the reasons for divorce has been significantly limited in non-contested divorce proceedings, both administrative and judicial. The competent authority is effectively no longer entitled to make any inquiry as to the grounds for divorce. Therefore the marriage is presupposed to have irretrievably broken down if both spouses have agreed to a divorce.

Как часто суды отказывают в рассмотрении заявлений о расторжении брака?

Under the 1995 Family Code never. Neither a judge in a judicial procedure, nor the public official at the Department for Registration of Civil Acts in an administrative procedure, has the discretional power

to refuse the dissolution of a marriage if at least one of the parties insists on a divorce.

Только ли суд может расторгнуть брак, или применяется и административная процедура?

The current Russian Family Code provides for two types of divorce proceedings: an administrative procedure before a public official of the Department for Registration of Civil Acts; a court procedure.

The administrative procedure is normally applicable when two conditions are simultaneously met:

1) the spouses do not jointly have minor children; 2) both spouses have mutually agreed to a divorce.

С чего начинается процедура расторжения брака? Нужен ли в таком случае адвокат?

The administrative divorce procedure available to spouses without minor children is initiated by a joint petition by the spouses Normally the spouses have to appear before the Department for Registration of Civil Acts in person. If one of the spouses is unable to attend the Department, he or she can present a separate application for divorce in writing, which requires authentication by a notary. The administrative divorce

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procedure in exceptional cases, t, accompanied by an authorised copy of a court decision, under which the other spouse is declared to have disappeared, to lack legal competence or to have been sentenced to more than three years’ imprisonment.

А что Вы скажете о судебной процедуре?

The judicial procedure is initiated by a joint or sole petition on the part the spouse(s). The parties can

represent themselves in both the administrative and judicial procedures. Legal representation is therefore not obligatory. One or both spouses may be represented in court by an attorney if she or he so wish(es). No legal aid is available for such representation.

Когда же происходит действительное расторжение брака?

In the case of administrative divorce the marriage is finally dissolved at the moment of the registration of the divorce in the Civil Acts Register. In the case of judicial divorce, if the court decision has been delivered after 1 May 1996 (the date when Article 25 Russian Family Code entered into force16) the marriage is finally dissolved once the court decision has become final.

Имеет ли на момент расторжения брака значение продолжительность брака?

No. The only limitation in time concerning the instigation of the divorce procedure is to be found in Article 17 Russian Family Code. According to this provision a husband is not allowed to apply for divorce without the consent of his wife during her pregnancy and within one year after she has given birth to a child.

This rule should be considered as a positive discrimination measure.

Нужно ли сторонам ждать, когда истечет период времени, необходимый для примирения сторон в разваливающемся браке?

Only in the case of a contested divorce can the judge order reconciliation measures to be taken. As Russia does not have a mediation system, this mostly means a reconciliation period(s) of up to three months in total.

Есть ли период обдумывания, который дается сторонам до начала процедуры прекращения брака?

An administrative divorce cannot not be granted before one month after filing the petition. A judicial non-contested divorce cannot be granted before one month after filing the petition. No reconciliation period can be ordered in such a case. Both the above-mentioned periods are considered to be a kind of ‘cool off’ period in order to prevent ‘knee-jerk’ divorces immediately following a quarrel. In the case of a contested divorce a judge may order a reconciliation period of up to three months. More than one reconciliation periods may be ordered, provided that the total duration of these periods does not exceed three months.

B) Role-play the interview in pairs.

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UNIT 4

Recognition of Overseas Divorces. Conflict of law rules.

VOCABULARY

pending suit иск на рассмотрение суда

commencement of the proceedings возбуждение производства по делу

freezing order «замораживающий»,блокирующий (запрещающий какие либо дальнейшие действия) судебный запрет

injunction pending appeal судебный запрет впредь до подачи аппеляции voidable for impotence оспоримый в связи с неспособностью

extra-judicial 1) не относящийся к рассматриваемому делу; неофициальный; 2) сделанный вне заседания суда (о заявлении сторон)

Task 1. Study the Russian Family Code Section VII , article 160

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 применяется при расторжении брака между гражданами РФ и иностранными гражданами?

2.Как гражданин РФ, приживающий за ее пределами, может расторгнуть брак?

3.Признаются ли браки, расторгнутые за пределами РФ, на территории РФ?

4.Как обстоят дела с растожением браков между иностранными гражданами, совершенным за пределами территории РФ?

Task 2. You are going to translate some rules from “Dicey and Morris on the Conflict of laws”. A) First, read some quotations about the famous book and translate them into Rusian.

“… Dicey, Morris and Collins remains the essential reference book for every practitioner and academic with an interest in the conflict of laws. … Dicey remains a formidable book and continues to provide an essential step in any consideration of the conflict of laws” – British Yearbook of International Law.

“Dicey remains the repository of answers, admirably absorbing, accommodating and authoritatively explaining the myriad legislative contributions to modern private international law.” - Lloyd, Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly.

"The 14th edition ensures that Dicey remains a truly great piece of legal scholarship whose scope and detail is unsurpassed". - Lloyd, Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly.

"In terms of its status and reputation, it is difficult to think of any other text book which can be as confidently cited in the English Courts. Dicey is referred to regularly by judges at all levels and in many diverse fields". – British Yearbook of International Law.

B) Study Rules 81-86 of “Dicey and Morris on the Conflict of laws” and translate them paying attention to the words and grammar constructions in bold.

Chapter 18

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B. CHOICE OF LAW

Rule 81.—(1) In proceedings in England for divorce or judicial separation, the court will apply English domestic law.

(2) In proceedings in England for a decree of nullity of marriage, the question whether a marriage is invalid for want of form will (in general) be determined by the law of the place of celebration in accordance with Rule 70 and the question whether a marriage is invalid for want of capacity or of consent of either party will be determined by the law of his or her antenuptial domicile in accord¬ance with Rules 71 and 72.

(3) In proceedings in England for a decree of nullity of marriage, where the marriage complies with Rules 70 to 72 as regards form, capacity and consent, the question whether themarriage is voidable for impotence or wilful refusal to consummate will (semble) be determined by English domestic law or (perhaps) by the law of the pet¬itioner's domicile at the time of the marriage.

C.RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN DECREES

(1)Decrees Granted in the British Isles

Rule 82.—(1) A divorce, annulment or judicial separation granted by a court of civil jurisdiction in any part of the British Islands will, subject to Rule 85A, be recognised in England.

(2)An extra-judicial divorce obtained in the British Islands before January 1, 1974, will be recognised in England if it was recognised as valid under the law of the spouses' common domicile.

(3)Subject to clause (2) of this Rule, no divorce or annulment obtained in any part of the

British Islands other than in a court of civil jurisdiction will be recognised in England.

(2) Decrees Obtained Outside the British Isles

Rule 83.—(1) An overseas divorce or legal separation obtained in a country outside the British Islands by means of judicial or other proceedings and effective under the law of that country will, subject to Rule 85A, be recognised in England if at the date of the commencement of the proceedings

. (a) either party to the marriage was habitually resident in the country in which the divorce or legal separation was obtained; or

(b)either party to the marriage, was domiciled in that country; or

(c)either party to the marriage was a national of that country; and not otherwise.

(2) For the purposes of this Rule, a party to a marriage is domiciled in a country if he is domiciled in that country according to the law of that country in family matters or according to the law of England.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Rule 84. – (1) An overseas divorce or legal separation obtained in a country outside the British Islands otherwise than by means of judicial or other proceedings and effective under the law of that country will, subject to Rule 85A, be recognised in England if on the date of which it was obtained

(a)each party to the marriage was domiciled in that country or

(b)either party to the marriage was domiciled in that country and the other party was domiciled in a country under whose law the decree is recognised as valid and, in either case, neither party to the marriage was habitual resident in the United Kingdom throughout the period of one year immediately preceding that date.

(2) For the purposes of this Rule, a party to the mar¬riage is domiciled in a country if he is domiciled in that country according to the law of that country in family matters or according to the law of England.

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................................................................................................................................................

Rule 85. —(1) An overseas annulment obtained in a country outside the British Islands by means of judicial or other proceedings and effective under the law of that country will, subject to Rule 85A, be recognised in Eng¬land if

(a)at the date of the commencement of the proceed¬ings either party to the marriage was habitually resident in that country; or

(b)at that date either party to the marriage was domi¬ciled in that country; or

(c)at that date either party to the mariage was a national of that country; or

(d)at the earlier date of the death of a party to the mariage, that party was habitually

resident or domiciled in, or a national of, that country,

(2) An overseas annulment obtained in a country out¬side the British Islands otherwise than by means of judicial or other proceedings and effective under the law of that country will, subject to Rule 85A, be recog¬nised in England if

(a)at the date on which it was obtained each party to the marriage was domiciled in that

country; or

(b)at that date either party to the marriage was domi¬ciled in that country and the other party was domiciled in a country under whose law the annulment is recognised; or

(c)in cases where either party to the marriage died before that date, the domicile requirements of paragraph (a) or (b) are satisfied in relation to that party to the marriage at the date of death and in relation to a surviving party at the date on which the annulment was obtained,

and, in any case, neither party to the marriage was habitu¬ally resident in the United Kingdom throughout the period of one year immediately preceding the date on which the annulment was obtained or his earlier death.

(3) For the purposes of this Rule, a party to the mar¬riage is domiciled in a country if he is domiciled in that country according to the law of that country in family matters or according to the law of England.

D. EFFECT IN ENGLAND OF FOREIGN DECREES

Rule 86. (1) A foreign divorce which is recognised under Rule 82, 83 or 84 has the same effect in England on the status of the parties as an English decree of divorce.

(2)A foreign divorce which is not recognised under Rule 82, 83 or 84 has no effect in England on the status of the parties, but it may have other effects.

(3)A foreign decree of legal separation which is recognised under Rule 82, 83 or 84 has the same effect in England as an English decree of judicial separation.

Task 3. Provide the English counterparts to the following Russian combinations.

решение суда о признании брака недействительным; добрачный домициль; намеренный, умышленный отказ от вступления в брак; судебное решение о признании брака недействительным; возбуждение производства по делу; постановление суда о раздельном жительстве супругов, судебное разлучение; брак, признаваемый в одной стране и непризнаваемый в др.; в отношении ч-л ; вопросы семейного права.

Task 4. Match the corresponding English combinations (A) with the Russian ones (B).

A.restore the parties to the status of unmarried persons; capacity to remarry; the decree absolute; a fresh marriage; a penal restriction; ancillary order for maintenance; to entail the recognition of; re-open the issues (the case); nullity decree;

B.решение суда., окончательно и безусловно вступившее в силу; влечь за собой признание ч-л; второстепенный приказ суда в отношении содержания (ребенка); ограничение, наказуемое штрафными санкциями; возврат сторон в прежнее правое положение (не состоящих в браке);

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правоспособность вступать в другой брак; новый брак; решение суда о призвании брака недействительным; возобновить дело.

Task 5. Read the first part of the article “Choosing a Forum” by Marilyn Stowe, Family Law Journal, 20/04/2007, and translate it into Russian paying attention to the word combinations and grammar structures in bold.

Choosing a Forum

Marilyn Stowe weighs up the key considerations when a client contacts you from an EU country requesting advice on a divorce. Professionally, you are in a race against time when initial contact has been made, and there is a choice of jurisdiction for the issue of divorce proceedings. Failure to protect your client by proceeding immediately in the appropriate country can result in disastrous financial consequences for your client, who may in turn sue you to recoup the loss. It is therefore necessary to quickly determine the appropriate forum for the case.

Case study

Let’s consider this example: the husband is English, the wife Scottish. They married and lived in England, have teenage children and 5 years ago the family moved to France, ostensibly to make the most of the climate and the tax benefits available through Monaco and other places. The Inland Revenue were notified of their new non-resident status, and they ceased to pay UK tax. The husband retains some business links with the UK, including an apartment used by the couple for trips to the UK. The family have their main home in France where they are resident for much of the year and from where the husband operates his businesses. However in France, they are also registered as non-resident to avoid paying French tax, speak only English, socialize within the British ex-pat community and continue to maintain social ties to England: their medical and dental treatment takes place in England; the children study at English universities and the wife stays with them as often as she can. The wife has no assets or income of her own. The marriage falls apart and you are contacted by the wife, who thinks her husband is going to issue a divorce.

EC No 2201/2003 (Brussels II Bis)

Brussels II Bis governs relevant jurisdiction. It states that the first country where proceedings are issued - in divorce, judicial separation or nullity - is automatically seized of the matter (Articles 16 and 19). The basis for jurisdiction is covered under Article 3. A court can claim jurisdiction if the country is:

The spouses’ habitual residence;

The last habitual residence of both spouses when one is still resident there;

The respondent’s habitual residence;

Either spouse’s habitual residence if a joint application;

The applicant’s habitual residence (min 12 months)

The applicant’s habitual residence (6 months’ residence) and their nationality or domicile is in the UK or Ireland; or

The nationality of both spouses or their domicile in the case of UK and Ireland Notwithstanding membership of the EU, the family law of each member state remains unique

to that state. The law of each state has evolved from cultural, religious, social and political developments and thus may be, and often is, wholly different to that of another member states.

Note also that the country seized of the matter, will define which law is applied in relation to multi-jurisdictional divorces. There may, in some cases, be a choice of law open to the court, so it must

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not be assumed that the law of the state seized will be applied. In England however, the rule of Lex Fori (the law of the forum) applies. English law is always applied in England, no matter what the nationality or residence of the parties. In other countries, it may be the law of the parties’ joint nationality applied by a foreign court. Such an option could be daunting, even if it is English law, not least because of language barriers and cost.

Divorce in one EU state, must be recognised under Brussels II Bis and will then have the effect of dissolving the parties’ marital status in all EU jurisdictions, even where there have been two marriage ceremonies in two EU jurisdictions. (see D v D 2006 2FLR 825). Two sets of divorce proceedings are not necessary.

In our case study, you need to swiftly consider whether it would be advantageous to the wife if she were to proceed in either the English or the French courts. Usually as in this case, the answer will be in the English courts. The English-speaking wife will be entitled to take advantage of all the remedies available under ss22-24 MCA 1973. Contact should be made with a lawyer in the other possible jurisdiction for comparison purposes but usually England will give your client spouse far more protection, particularly in cases where ongoing maintenance is to be taken into account. In France the wife in our case study would not do as well financially. It is in her interests to proceed in England, but in her husband’s to proceed in France.

Task 6. Read the second part of the article “Choosing a forum” and render it in Russian in writing.

Jurisdictional Issues

All is not lost if the incorrect basis for jurisdiction is entered on the petition - see R v R (Divorce: Jurisdiction: Domicile) [2006], where it was held that it would not be fatal to the proceedings.

Domicile

The retention of domicile as a basis to found jurisdiction, is unique to the UK and Ireland. Domicile is interpreted as real and substantial ties to a country, at the root of which is a permanent home.

Domicile can be either domicile of origin (ie the country of birth) or domicile of choice. Married women have an independent domicile of their husband (Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973) but there is a strong probability of both spouses having the same domicile if they are living together.

In our case study England is the domicile of origin of the husband but not the wife. However it is clearly the domicile of choice of the wife. When she married and moved to England she gave up her domicile of origin in Scotland and created a life in England. She no longer retained ties to Scotland and had no plans to live there again. Instead she built substantial links to England and spends time in France and England but not in Scotland.

Assuming the parties were both domiciled in England before their move to France, have they now lost their English domicile? It could be argued by the husband (opposing English jurisdiction) that, having sold their English main home and moved to a family home in France, they have both abandoned

Rule 10 in Dicey and Morris on the Conflict of Laws (13th Edition) states that domicile of choice may be acquired by a combination of residence and intention of permanent and indefinite residence but not otherwise. In determining whether a person intends to reside permanently or indefinitely in a country, Rule 12 states that the court must have regard to the reason why they have taken up residence there. Rule 13 provides that, in order to lose a domicile of choice in a country the person must cease to reside there and cease to intend to reside there permanently and indefinitely. C v FC (Brussels II: Freestanding application for parental responsibility) [2004] provided that a person could be non-resident in a country yet still retain their domicile.

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It is noteworthy that declarations as to intention by a person asserting domicile of choice must be examined very carefully in the context of reasons why and the actions of the person concerned (see Ross v Ross [1930]) Thus, a statement to the court, or a statement to HMRC of a change of domicile would not necessarily be of importance.

Domicile is substantially more complex than mere habitual residence which in essence is part of domicile. It is a matter of establishing ties to the country - socially, economically and culturally - and determining intention and permanency.

The court will in practice look at the parties’ passports and driving licences; where the parties pay tax; the languages spoken; social, medical, fiscal, financial and familial ties to a country and integration into the local community.

Habitual Residence

The attraction of habitual residence to a practitioner is that it need only apply to the Petitioner. There is no definition of this term in Brussels II Bis as each case is intended to be treated on the ordinary meaning of the words and the facts. However, it has long been recognised that a person may actually have two habitual residences (Ikimi v Ikimi [2001] and C v FC). The Court must consider the community-wide definition of the expression, but it is to be determined by reference to the state in which a person habitually resides and in which the habitual centre of that person’s interests are to be found. (Swaddling v Adjudication Officer [1999])

“Habitual” does not simply mean quantifying the time spent in a country, or absences from it, especially if there are good reasons for absence. The quality of the residence needs to be considered and “an appreciable amount of time together with settled intention are required” (see Re J (A Minor)

In the recent French Case of Moore v Moore [2005], before the Cour de Cassation (the highest court in the French Judicial System) held that the wife had not transferred to France, “the usual and permanent centre of her interests” in considering whether she was habitually resident.

In our case study, the wife could, perhaps surprisingly, assert habitual residence in England. This demonstrates that, in a dispute as to jurisdiction, the possibility of asserting habitual residence should be considered in some detail, although it may be more difficult to assert habitual residence than loss of both parties’ domicile.

Task 7 . Match the English and Russian counterparts.

A.a lifetime maintenance; a freezing order; acknowledgement of service; to abandon a domicile; an interim provision; to award maintenance pending suit; an injunction pending appeal; legal fees;

an expedient hearing; to opt out; a lump sum; to dispose of assets; to be fact-dependent.

B.расписка по факту вручения судебного документа; возмещение судебных издержек; отказываться от; назначить сумму денежного содержания (супруга или ребенка) на время судебного рассмотрения дела; пожизненное содержание; отказаться от домициля; промежуточное решение суда о временном содержании иждивенца (выносится в ходе рассмотрения дела); единовременная выплата; в зависимости от фактов; ускоренное слушание дела, сокращенное судопроизводство; распоряжаться имуществом; судебный запрет в отношении каких-либо дальнейших действий; судебный запрет впредь до подачи аппеляции.

Task 8. Translate into English.

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1.Разводы граждан России, совершенные за рубежом в соответствии с законодательством иностранного государства, признаются в России без какой-либо регистрации акта расторжения брака в российских учреждениях.

2.В целом в иностранных государствах принята судебная форма развода. В некоторых

некоторых штатах США, развод проходит два этапа.

3.На первом этапе суд выносит предварительное решение (decree nisi), которое подтверждает право на развод, а в некоторых случаях сопровождается допол-

нительными постановлениями, касающимися опеки над детьми, права на материальное содержание и пр. Такое решение не является решением о разводе, супруги не считаются разведенными и в течение установленного срока не вправе вступать в новый брак.

4.На втором этапе, после истечения установленного законом срока, решение станет окончательным (в большинстве случаев автоматически) и брак считается расторгнутым.

5.Система предварительного развода преследует главным образом две цели:

1)предоставление сторонам дополнительного времени для примирения с целью воспитания у сторон строгого отношения к браку как институту; 2) предотвращение возможных споров, связанных с отцовством.

6.В Англии продолжает применяться так называемая система сепарации. В отличие от развода, судебная сепарация была распространена в Англии до 1858 г. (тогда

сепарация именовалась «развод в отношении постели и стола» (from bed and board). Смысл судебного решения о сепарации состоял в том, чтобы дать право истцу жить отдельно от ответчика без расторжения их брака и без предоставления супругам права на вступление в другой брак.

7.В настоящее время сравнительно небольшое число прошений такого рода подается в английские суды, главным образом лицами, которые имеют определенные религиозные препятствия для расторжения брака. Во всех таких случаях английские суды применяют только английское право, даже если супруги домицилированы за рубежом.

8.Во многих странах разводы допускаются по строго ограниченному кругу основа-ний (например, в Италии - осуждение супруга за тяжкое уголовное преступление, неспособность к брачной жизни и т.п. ) или специальным органом, что подчеркивает исключительный характер самой этой процедуры.

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