Family-Law Private International Law – Core Points

Conflict-of-Laws Basics

• Governing law usually either lex domicili or lex patriae
• Common-law courts → $\text{lex domicili}$ ; Civil-law courts → $\text{lex patriae}$

Succession

• Intestate rules differ for movables / immovables
  • Movables → law of habitual residence of deceased
  • Immovables → lex situs
• Nepal (Muluki Civil Code)
  • $\S 695$: successor to foreigner → nationality → habitual residence → temporary residence
  • $\S 696$: property in Nepal → nationality law, else habitual residence, else Nepali law
  • $\S 698$: movables vs immovables split
• Key treaties
  • 1961 Form of Testamentary Dispositions
  • 1973 Uniform Law on International Will

Marriage: Nature & Types

• Classic definition (Hyde 1866): “voluntary union for life of $1$ man $+$ $1$ woman, to exclusion of others”
• Marriage concept varies (Hindu gift, Islamic contract, Christian covenant)
• Nepal: tradition vs registration (Marriage Registration Act $2028$)

Governing Law of Marriage

• Formalities → $\text{lex loci celebrationis}$ (Scrimshire 1752; Berthiaume 1930)
  • Exception: embassy/consulate clauses (Nepal $\S 699\,700$)
• Capacity → dual-domicile doctrine (Pugh 1951; Re Paine 1940)
  • Alternative: intended family domicile (Perrini 1979; Radwan 1972)
• Consent → law of domicile of each party (Szechter 1971)
• Polygamy
  • Capacity governed as above; Nepal forbids (Civil Code $\S 70,72$; Penal $\S 175$)

Validity Checklist

1. Formalities complied with
2. Legal capacity of parties
3. Free & informed consent
4. Consummation (some systems)

Divorce

• Models
  • Fault-based (adultery, cruelty)
  • No-fault / irretrievable breakdown (France $1975$; UK Divorce Reform Act $1969$; Nepal $\S 93\text{–}95$)
• Jurisdiction (England)
  • Pre-1973: domicile only; unity of domicile for wife
  • Now (DMPA $1973$): either party domiciled OR one-year habitual residence
• Choice of law: English courts apply English divorce law exclusively
• Recognition
  • Hague Convention $1970$; UK Recognition Act $1971$
  • Test: effective divorce + petitioner/ respondent $\in$ (habitual residence / domicile / nationality) of granting state
  • Nepal $\S 706$ recognises foreign divorce if valid where obtained

Judicial Separation

• Same jurisdictional test as divorce (DMPA $1973$)
• Nepal $\S 705$: law of habitual residence of couple

Nullity / Annulment

• Void: no consent, prohibited degrees, under $20$, existing marriage etc.
• Voidable: misrepresentation (disease, impotence, pregnancy, mental disorder…)
• Jurisdiction: domicile or one-year habitual residence; post-death possible
• Choice of law follows rules on validity (Matrimonial Causes Act $1973$)

Legitimacy & Legitimation

• Status determined by domicile of origin of child (father’s domicile if legitimate; mother’s if not)
  • Re Bischoffsheim: legitimacy per New York law accepted
• Putative marriage doctrine (Legitimacy Act $1976$)
• Legitimation by subsequent marriage / recognition—governed by father’s domicile at marriage (Legitimacy Act $1976$ drops dual test)
• Succession: legitimated child inherits except English land rule (Birtwhistle v Vardill)

Adoption

• English order requires adopter (one of couple) domiciled in UK
• Court may consider recognition abroad but welfare paramount (Re SB 1968)
• Hague Convention $1993$: best interests + automatic recognition
• Nepal $\S 703$: relationship post-adoption governed by adopter’s nationality law

Minority & Guardianship

• Welfare principle (Children Act $1989$)
• Hague Child Abduction Convention $1980$ → return to state of habitual residence
• Jurisdiction: ordinary residence enough (Re P 1965); foreign orders respected (Re H 1966)
• Nepal $\S 704$: guardianship by child’s nationality law; relationship by guardian’s law unless child habitually resident in Nepal

Mental Disorder

• Court of Protection (UK) handles property / personal decisions (Mental Capacity Act $2005$)
• Domicile freezes on insanity (Urquhart 1887) unless dependent on parent
• Foreign curator orders may be recognised for movable assets (Didisheim 1900)
• Nepal $\S 704$ rules mirror guardianship approach

Key Nepal Private International Law Sections (Muluki Civil Code)

• $\S 695\text{–}698$: succession
• $\S 699\,700$: marriage formalities & capacity (citizens / foreigners)
• $\S 701$: matrimonial consequences
• $\S 702$: parental authority & legitimacy
• $\S 703$: adoption
• $\S 704$: guardianship / mental incapacity
• $\S 705$: judicial separation
• $\S 706$: recognition of foreign divorce