AN INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY LAW

AN INTRODUCTION TO
FAMILY LAW
BY FEZAL KHAN BOODHOO
BAR-AT-LAW
LECTURE CONTENT
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DEVELOPMENT IN THE LAW OF MARRIAGE.
MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW
REQUIREMENTS OF A VALID MARRIAGE
MARITAL REGIMES
RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF SPOUSES
FILIATION
DIVORCE
POST DIVORCE ISSUES – MAINTENANCE / CUSTODY/ USE OF
MATRIMONIAL HONE
• DIVORCE MEDIATION
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LAW
• 1793: APPLICATIONS OF SOME PROVISIONS OF THE FRENCH CODE PENAL TO
TO CRIMINALISE BIGAMY
AND PROVISIONS TO CRIMINALISE CELEBRATION OF RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE BY A PRIEST BEFORE CIVIL
MARRIAGE.
• 1804: REPACEMENT OF CODE PENAL 1793 BY PENAL CODE ORDINANCE IN 1838PROMULGATION OF
FRENCH CIVIL CODE IN MAURITIUS – ABOVE PROVISIONS MAINTAINED.
• 1890: CIVIL STATUS ORDINANCE – PROVISION CRIMINALIZING CELEBRATION
CELEBRATION OF RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE
BEFORE CIVIL MARRIAGE REPEALED.
• 1914: INDIAN MARRIAGE ORDINANCE 1914 – MECHANISM TO REGISTER MUSLIM AND HINDU
MARRIAGES. MUST BE OFFICIATED BY APPOINTED PRIEST AND THE MARRIAGE
MARRIAGE ACQUIRED CIVIL EFFECT
ON REGISTRATION.
• 1981 – REFORMS TO IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF WOMEN DUE TO NO REGULATION
REGULATION OF RELIGIOUS
MARRIAGES.
• THREE NEW REGIMES ESTABLISHED
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LAW
• FIRST REGIME: UNIFORM REGIME OF CIVIL MARRIAGE MAINTAINED EXCEPT FOR
MUSLIM RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE. NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO MARRY RELIGIOUSLY
WITHOUT CIVIL MARRIAGE. CRIMINALISATION OF BIGAMY.
• SECOND REGIME: RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE WITHOUT CIVIL EFFECT CELEBRATED
BEFORE 1982 TO HAVE LIMITED JURIDICAL EFFECT UPON REGISTRATION
(MIXTURE OF CIVIL LAW AND RELIGIOUS RULES)
• THIRD REGIME: PROVISION FOR FUTURE MUSLIM RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE TO BE
GOVERNED BY FUTURE CODE OF MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW WHICH IS TO B
COMPILED BY A COMMISSION OF MUSLIM JURISTS AND APPROVED BY LA.
• 1987: AMENDMENT TO CSA TO ABANDON THE THIRD REGIME AND EXTENSION
OF SECOND REGIME TO MUSLIM RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE CELEBRATED BETWEEN
1982 AND 1987.
• POST 1987-1990: ONE MAY MARRY CIVILLY OR RELIGIOUSLY BUT WITH CIVIL
EFFECT
• 1990: RE-RECOGNITION OF THIRD REGIME AND SETTING UP OF MUSLIM FAMILY
COUNCIL
MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW
• 1965 CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE: AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE FOR THE
INTRODUCTION OF MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW
• 1966 CONSTITUTION: SEC 14(4) – PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION TO
EXCLUDE MATTER OF PERSONAL LAWS
• 1981 – PROVISIONS INTRODUCED IN THE LAW FOR THE EVENTUAL
INTRODUCTION OF MPA.
• PENDING COMPILATION OF THE CODE AND APPROVAL BY ASSEMBLY,
PROVISION MADE IN CSA TO APPLY CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE CIVIL CODE
TO MUSLIM RELIGIOUS MARRIAGES.
• 1987: REPEALED OF PROVISION IN CSA OF 1981 FOR EVENTUAL INTRODUCTION
OF MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW
• 1990: COURT CASE BHEWA & ALLADEEN V GOVT OF MTIUS CHALLENGING
CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE REPEALING ACT – FAILED ATTEMPT
• 1990 – PRIVY COUNCIL BHEWA V GOVT OF MTIUS – CASE CADUQUE
FOLLOWING AMENDMENT TO THE CSA AND SETTING UP OF MUSLIM FAMILY
COUNCIL
LA FILIATION
• TWO TYPES: ENFANT LEGITIME ET ENFANT NATUREL
• ENFANT LEGITIME: CHILD BORN FROM A VALID MARRIAGE – TAKE
THE NAME OF THE HUSBAND OF THE MOTHER
• LEGITIMATION PAR ADOPTION
• ENFANT NATUREL: BORN OUTSIDE WEDLOCK: THREE TYPES
• Simple – Incestueux - Adulterin
• ENFANTS NATUREL NON RECONNUS
• DISTINCTION BETWEEN DECLARE UN ENFANT ET RECONNAITRE UN
ENFANT
• ENTRY ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF AN UNRECOGNIZED CHILD.
• CHANGE OF NAME IN CASE OF ADOPTION
LE MARRIAGE
• UN ACT BILATERAL SOLONEL –
• IT IS A PREDETERMINED CONTRACT - THE EFFECT OF MARRIAGE IS
NOT DECIDED BY THE PARTIES BUT PRE-DETERMINED BY THE LAW.
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MARRIAGE – ORDRE PUBLIQUE
CONDITION DE FORME & CONDITION DE FONDS
CONDITION DE FORM – PUBLICATION
CONDITION DE FONDS – 1) LA DIFFERENCE DE SEXE 2) CONDITION
D’AGE 3) CONSENTMENT 4) CAPACITE
• MARRIAGE OF A MINOR CHILD
• ENFANT LEGITIME – ENFANT NATUREL – ENFANT ORPHELIN –
ENFANT ADOPTIF – ENFANT PLACE DANS UNE FAMILLE D’ACCEUIL
LE MARIAGE
• PROHIBITION DU MARRIAGE
• ANNULATION DU MARRIAGE – VERY RARE – LONG PROCEDURE –
COULD TAKE UP TO THREE YEARS.
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WHO CAN ASK FOR “ANNULATION DU MARRIAGE”?
PRESCRIPTION DE 6 MOIS.
LES EFFECTS DE LA NULLITE DU MARRIAGE
LE MARIAGE PUTATIFS – MARRIED IN GOOD FAITH
LES EFFETS DU MARIAGE
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EFFETS ENTRE CONJOINT
EFFETS ENVERS LES ENFANTS
EFFETS ENTRE CONJOINTS: PECUNIAIRES ET PERSONNELS
EFFETS PECUNIAIRES: REGIS PAR LE REGIME MATRIMONIAL SAUF
POUR LE DEVOIR DE CONTRIBUER AU CHARGE DU MARRIAGE.
• EFFETS PERSONNELS: RECIPROQUES – CONJOINTES
• PERSONNELS RECIPROQUES: 1) FIDELITE, 2) COMMUNAUTE DE VIE,
3) DEVOIR DE SECOURS ET D’ASSISTANCE.
• EFFETS CONJOINTES: DIRECTION DE LA FAMILLE / CHOIX DE LA
RESIDENCE FAMILIALE / AUTORITE PARENTAL
DIVORCE
• DISSOLUTION DU MARRIAGE
• TYPES DE DIVORCE – PAR FAUTE / RUPTURE DE LA VIE COMMUNE/
CONSENTEMENT MUTUELLE
• PAR FAUTE – NO TIME RESTRICTION - MUST PROVE
“MANQUEMENTS GRAVES AU DEVOIRS ET OBLIGATIONS”
• OPTIONS OPEN TO THE OTHER SPOUSE.
• DIVORCE PAR RUPTURE DE LA VIE COMMUNE: TROIS ANS DE
SEPARATION – PAS DE COMMUNAUTE DE VIE
• DIVORCE PAR CONSENTEMENT MUTUELLE – TIME RESTRICTION
APPLICABLE
POST DIVORCE ISSUES
• ALIMONY – SPOUSE AND CHILDREN
• HOW ALIMONY IS CALCULATED.
• USE OF MATRIMONIAL HOME – USUALLY GRANTED TO SPOUSE
WHO HAS CUSTODY OF THE CHILDREN.
• UNTIL WHEN CAN A SPOUSE HAVE THE SOLE USE OF MATRIMONIAL
HOME?
• CUSTODY – THE COURT WILL CONSIDER WHERE THE BEST INTEREST
OF THE CHILD LIES.
• DROIT DE VISITE ET D’HEBERGEMENT
• VARIATION OF ALIMONY / CUSTODY / USE OF MATRIMONIAL
HOME
DIVORCE MEDIATION
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WHAT IS MEDIATION
USE OF MEDIATION IN OTHER JURISDICTION
TRAUMA ASSOCIATED WITH DIVORCE
EFFECT OF DIVORCE ON CHILDREN