On the need for change in Polish divorce law Cover Image

O potrzebie zmian w polskim prawie rozwodowym
On the need for change in Polish divorce law

Author(s): Marek Andrzejewski
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence
Published by: Instytut Nauk Prawnych PAN
Keywords: marriage; family; divorce; divorce law; court of domestic relations; polish divorce law

Summary/Abstract: The author discusses an always relevant problem of the model of the procedure for dissolving marriage. The problem is analyzed from the point of view not only of law, but also social sciences, primarily, psychology. He observes a presence of a dominant tendency nowadays to deemphasize the meaning of marriage and family, and to succumb to crisis and file for a divorce for banal reasons. The so called pro-divorce mentality translates into a tendency observed among judges to favour divorce. On the other hand, the author assesses the legal acts referring to divorce cases as reasonable, i.e. neither favoring nor facilitating divorce. Therefore, a need is emphasized to change the approach to the family in a critical situation. He suggests that in a family court instead of settling family legal problems an attempt should be made to solve them. To this effect, in local communities, special groups comprising psychologists, pedagogues, lawyers, social workers and other specialists should be set up. The ultimate goal for the groups would be to try to reconcile the spouses, to help them solve their family problems, including assistance in dealing with all divorce procedures. People dissatisfied with the proposal suggested by such a group might have a right to file a case in court. In court the proceedings should be held in compliance not with the so far applied adversarial principle but with the conciliatory principle.

  • Issue Year: 207/2016
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 99-127
  • Page Count: 29
  • Language: Polish
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