Cross-Border Divorce Law Brussels II Bis

by Ni Shuilleabhain, Maire

• ISBN13: 9780199581191
• ISBN10: 0199581193
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-11-28
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This book is the only title to offer a detailed and comprehensive analysis of cross-border divorce law under the Brussels II bis Regulation. Drawing on the recent proliferation of literature and substantial body of case-law DDS including consideration of the impact of recent Brussels I case-law on Brussels II bis DDS the book provides a mature and insightful account of the Regulation. It details the alternative options that might have been considered by the EU institutions in lieu of the legislative strategy of Brussels II/Brussels II bis, as well as analyzing a potential extension of its application to same-sex relationships and the curtailment of forum non conveniens.

Author Biography

Maire Ni Shuilleabhain is a lecturer at the School of Law, University College Dublin where she teaches the conflict of laws, intellectual property law and commercial law. Her primary interests are in the family aspects of the conflict of laws and in trademark law. She has recently completed a PhD thesis at the University of Nottingham on the impact of Brussels IIbis Regulation (2201/2003) on matrimonial jurisdiction and recognition. She is qualified as a barrister (King's Inns, Dublin). She is also a graduate of University College, Dublin, Universitat Hannover and the University of Oxford.

Table of Contents

Tables of Cases	p. xiii
Tables of Legislation	p. xxiii
List of Abbreviations	p. xxxix
Introduction	p. xlv
Background, Context, and Principles of Interpretation	p. 1
Brussels II bis: Origins and Legislative History	p. 1.01
The Brussels I Convention	p. 1.01
International Cooperation in Matters of Status	p. 1.02
The Initial Development of the Brussels II Project	p. 1.03
Justifications for the Brussels II Project	p. 1.04
The Treaty of Amsterdam: From Intergovernmentalism to Supranationalism	p. 1.07
Rome III	p. 1.10
Other Subsequent and Future Developments	p. 1.13
Brussels II (bis) versus Alternative Options	p. 1.15
Introduction	p. 1.15
Amendment of French Law	p. 1.19
Bilateral Agreement Between Germany and France	p. 1.20
1970 Hague Convention	p. 1.21
New Single Convention	p. 1.26
Convention on Recognition of Marriage and Divorce	p. 1.29
Negative Integration: Direct Application of the 'Free Movement of Persons' Doctrine by the ECJ	p. 1.30
Harmonization of Substantive Divorce Law	p. 1.32
Conclusion	p. 1.34
Interpretation of Brussels II bis	p. 1.37
Ideal of Uniform Interpretation	p. 1.37
Principles of Interpretation	p. 1.40
Habitual Residence, Domicile, and Other Connecting Factors	p. 35
Introduction	p. 2.01
Habitual Residence	p. 2.04
Introduction	p. 2.04
Indicative Statements of the Nature of 'Habitual Residence'	p. 2.07
'Habitual Residence': Duration of Residence and Intention to Remain	p. 2.11
'Habitual Residence': Other Factors	p. 2.23
Overview and Conclusion: The Likely Interpretation of 'Habitual Residence' under Article 3 Brussels II bis	p. 2.41
Comparing 'Domicile' and 'Habitual Residence'	p. 2.46
Nature of 'Domicile'	p. 2.46
'Domicile' versus 'Habitual Residence'	p. 2.48
Other Connecting Factors	p. 2.53
Introduction	p. 2.53
Nationality	p. 2.54
Agreed Forum	p. 2.61
Place of Celebration	p. 2.65
Context of Use of Connecting Factors	p. 2.66
Conclusions	p. 2.71
Scope of Brussels II BIS	p. 83
Introduction	p. 3.01
Geographic Scope	p. 3.02
General	p. 3.02
UK Context	p. 3.03
Temporal Scope	p. 3.22
Personal Scope	p. 3.26
Material Scope	p. 3.28
Introduction	p. 3.28
Primary versus Ancillary Proceedings	p. 3.29
Subject-Matter Jurisdiction	p. 3.30
Meaning of 'Matrimonial Matters'	p. 3.34
Which 'Status' Proceedings are Included/Excluded?	p. 3.54
Conclusion	p. 3.76
Jurisdictional Bases Under Brussels II BIS	p. 131
Introduction	p. 4.01
Jurisdictional Grounds under Article 3 Brussels II bis	p. 4.03
Overview of Jurisdictional Grounds under Article 3(1)	p. 4.03
'The Spouses are Habitually Resident' (First Indent)	p. 4.06
'The Spouses were Last Habitually Resident, Insofar as One of Them Still Resides There' (Second Indent)	p. 4.07
'The Respondent is Habitually Resident' (Third Indent)	p. 4.08
'In the Event of a Joint Application, Either of the Spouses is Habitually Resident' (Fourth Indent)	p. 4.09
'The Applicant is Habitually Resident if He or She Resided There for at least a Year Immediately Before the Application was made' (Fifth Indent)	p. 4.15
'The Applicant is Habitually Resident if He or She Resided There for at least Six Months Immediately Before the Application was made and is Either a National of the Member State in Question or, in the Case of the United Kingdom and Ireland, has His or Her "Domicile" There' (Sixth Indent)	p. 4.18
'Member State...of the Nationality of Both Spouses or, in the Case of the United Kingdom and Ireland, of the "Domicile" of Both Spouses' (Seventh Indent)	p. 4.20
Derivative Jurisdictional Grounds under Brussels II bis	p. 4.21
Proof and Examination of Jurisdiction under Article 3	p. 4.22
Overview of Direct Jurisdiction under Brussels II bis	p. 4.23
Critical Analysis of the Cumulative Effect of the Article 3 Bases	p. 4.23
Particular Impact of Article 3 in English Law	p. 4.27
Residual Grounds for Jurisdiction under Brussels II bis	p. 4.32
Introduction	p. 4.32
Interpreting Articles 6 and 7	p. 4.33
Residual Jurisdiction under English Law	p. 4.40
Residual Jurisdiction: Analysis and Reform	p. 4.42
Relationship Between Brussels II bis Jurisdictional Grounds and Jurisdictional Bases for Ancillary Relief	p. 4.45
Introduction	p. 4.45
Jurisdiction in Ancillary Financial Matters: Background and Context	p. 4.48
Unity of Proceedings: The Impact of Brussels I	p. 4.51
Future Developments: Maintenance Regulation 4/2009 and the Matrimonial Property Green Paper	p. 4.56
Jurisdiction to Take 'Provisional, Including Protective, Measures'	p. 4.59
Conclusions	p. 4.63
Overview and Analysis	p. 4.64
Declining Jurisdiction Under Brussels II BIS	p. 185
Introduction and Background	p. 5.01
Lis Pendens under Brussels II bis	p. 5.04
Introduction to Article 19	p. 5.04
Material Scope of Lis Pendens Rule under Article 19	p. 5.06
Defining 'Seisin' under Article 19	p. 5.11
Conclusion	p. 5.15
Remaining Scope of Application of Forum Non Conveniens	p. 5.16
Introduction	p. 5.16
Forum Non Conveniens in Intra-EU Conflicts: Declining Jurisdiction in Favour of Another Member State	p. 5.19
Forum Non Conveniens in Extra-EU Conflicts: Declining Jurisdiction in Favour of a Third Country	p. 5.23
Declining Jurisdiction: Relationship Between Brussels II bis and Ancillary Proceedings	p. 5.37
Introduction	p. 5.37
Declining Jurisdiction: Relationship Between Brussels I and II bis	p. 5.40
Conclusion	p. 5.44
Critical Analysis of Brussels II bis Rules on Declining Jurisdiction	p. 5.46
Particular Impact of Curtailment of Forum Non Conveniens in Matrimonial Cases	p. 5.46
Declining Jurisdiction and the Protection of Human Rights	p. 5.53
Some Suggested Reforms	p. 5.55
Inadequacy of Choice-of-Law Solutions	p. 5.59
Conclusion	p. 5.62
Recognition of Matrimonial Decrees Under Brussels II BIS	p. 231
Introduction	p. 6.01
Recognition under the Family Law Act 1986 and under Brussels II bis: A Comparison	p. 6.02
Recognition under the 'Traditional Rules' of the 1986 Act	p. 6.02
Recognition under Brussels II bis	p. 6.07
Procedures for Recognition: A Comparison	p. 6.18
Conclusion	p. 6.23
Defences to Recognition under Brussels II bis	p. 6.28
Introduction	p. 6.28
Defences to Recognition and Article 6(1) ECHR	p. 6.30
Mandatory versus Discretionary Defences	p. 6.36
Public Policy Defence (Article 22(a) Brussels II bis)	p. 6.39
Natural Justice Defence (Article 22(b) Brussels II bis)	p. 6.54
Irreconcilable Judgments (Article 22(c) and Article 22(d) Brussels II bis)	p. 6.57
Conclusion	p. 6.64
Consequences of Recognition	p. 6.65
Introduction: Consequences of Recognition under English Law	p. 6.65
Consequences of Recognition under Brussels II bis	p. 6.71
Conclusion	p. 6.77
Conclusion	p. 6.79
Final Observations	p. 281
Introduction	p. 7.01
General Assessment	p. 7.02
English Law Perspective	p. 7.06
Bibliography	p. 287
Index	p. 303
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