Discussion on Localization of Family Law in the Legal System of the People’s Poland Cover Image

Dyskusja na temat miejsca prawa rodzinnego w systemie prawa Polski Ludowej
Discussion on Localization of Family Law in the Legal System of the People’s Poland

Author(s): Piotr Fiedorczyk
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, History of Law, Civil Law, Family and social welfare, WW II and following years (1940 - 1949), Post-War period (1950 - 1989), History of Communism
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku
Keywords: Family law; codification; Soviet law;

Summary/Abstract: After World War II Polish law was based on law of the USSR. Family law played important role in the reception of Soviet law, because it was the first example of applying Soviet rules. According to Soviet doctrine and legislation, family law was treated as an independent branch of law, separated from civil law. The construction of private law was rejected. The process of adapting Soviet rules started in 1949, when Polish and Czechoslovak lawyers were working together on draft of Family Code. No one of important Polish lawyers supported the idea of separation of family law from civil law at the beginning of works. Later they were forced to change their views and some of them (especially Seweryn Szer) supported the idea of separation of family law strongly. In the late 50’s the discussion about localization of family law was very emotional and open. It was the result of changing political situation (fall of the Stalinism). However, there was no political consent to prepare one civil code and that’s why two codes were passed in 1964: Family and Guardianship Code and Civil Code. The reception of Soviet rules in Polish family law was superficial. According to the prevailing opinion, the existence of separate Family code did not create independent branch of law and family law was regarded as a part of civil law. The supporters of the idea of separation were not able to construct the convincing theory about it. Present attempts to retain separated family code have no historical justification.

  • Issue Year: 7/2009
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 153-173
  • Page Count: 21
  • Language: Polish
Toggle Accessibility Mode