The Law Commission Working Paper No. 89 and The Scottish Law Commission Consultative Memorandum No. 64 Private International Law Choice of Law Rules in Marriage LONDON HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE €3.50 net The Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission were set up by the Law Commissions Act 1965 for the purpose of promoting the reform of the law. The Law Commissioners are: The Honourable Mr. Justice Ralph Gibson, Chairman Mr. Trevor M. Aldridge Mr. Brian Davenport, Q.C. Professor Julian Farrand Mrs. Brenda Hoggett The Secretary of the Law Commission is Mr. J.G.H. Gasson and its offices are at Conquest House, 37-38 John Street, Theobalds Road, London WC1N 2BQ. The Scottish Law Commissioners are: The Honourable Lord Maxwell, Chairman Mr. R.D.D. Bertram, W.S. Dr. E.M. Clive Mr. J. Murray, Q.C. Sheriff C.G.B. Nicholson, Q.C. The Secretary of the Scottish Law Commission is Mr. R. Eadie and its offices are at 140 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PR. This consultative document, completed for publication on 20 December 1984, is circulated for comment and criticism only. It does not represent the final views of the two Law Commissions. The Law Commissions would be grateful for comments on the consultative document before 31 July 1985. All correspondence should be addressed to: Miss A. Morris Miss J. McLeod Law Commission or Scottish Law Commission Conquest House 140 Causewayside 37-38 John Street Edinburgh EH9 1PR Theobalds Road London WC1 N 2BQ (Tel: 01 -242 0861, ext. 236) (Tel: 031 -668 2131, ext. 25) The Law Commission Working Paper No. 89 and The Scottish Law Commission Consultative Memorandum No. 64 Private International Law Choice of Law Rules in Marriage LONDON H ER MAJ ESTY'S STAT10 NE R Y 0 FFIC E 0 Crown copyright 1985 first published 1985 ISBN 0 11 730170 1 56-322-01 L301302 THE LAW COMMISSION WORKING PAPER N0.89 AND THE SCOTTISH LAW COMMISSION CONSULTATIVE MEMORANDUM NO. 64 PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW CHOICE OF LAW RULES IN MARRIAGE CONTENTS Paraqraph Paqe PART I INTRODUCTION 1.1 - 1.9 1-6 Background 1.1 - 1.3 1-3 Preparation of this paper 1.4 - 1.5 3-4 The main issues 1.6 - 1.8 4-5 Arrangement of this paper 1.9 5-6 PART U CHOICE OF LAW RULES GOVERNING FORMAL VALIDITY OF MARRIAGES 2.1 - 2.60 7 - 55 Introduction 2.1 7 A. THE PRESENT LAW 2.2 - 2.30 7 - 26 (a) The general rule: reqit actum 2.2 - 2.4 7-9 (b) Formalities: characterisation 2.5 - 2.6 9 (iii) Paraqraph Paqe (c) Law of the country of celebration: three problems 2.7 - 2.13 10 - 13 (i) Marriages celebrated in diplomatic premises 2.8 - 2.9 10 - 11 (ii) Effect of changes in the law of the country of celebration 2.10 - 2.11 12 - 13 (iii) Renvoi 2.12 - 2.13 13 (d) Exceptions to the locus reqit actum rule 2.14 - 2.30 14 - 26 (1) Consular marriages celebrated under the Foreign Marriage Act 1892 2.15 - 2.18 14 - 17 (2) Marriages of'members of British Forces serving abroad 2.19 17 - 18 (3) Common law exception 2.20 - 2.30 18 - 26 (a) England and Wales 2.20 - 2.28 18 - 25 The common law formalities 2.21 - 2.26 19 - 23 (i) Marriages in situations where compliance with the local law is . impossible 2.23 - 2.25 20 - 23 (ii) Marriages in countries under belligerent occupation 2.26 23 The doctrinal basis of the common law exception 2.27 23 - 24 Criticisms 2.28 24 - 25 (b) Scotland 2.29 - 2.30 25 - 26 B. POLICY CONSIDERATIONS FOR REFORM 2.31 - 2.35 26 - 31 Jurisdiction-selecting or rule- selecting approach? 2.31 - 2.34 26 - 28 Paraqraph Paqe Criteria for evaluating choice of law rules 2.35 29 - 31 C. PROPOSALS FOR REFORM 2.36 - 2.68 31 - 55 Should the lex loci rule be retained? 2.36 31 - 32 Further questions for consideration 2.37 - 2.47 32 -40 (a) Country of celebration 2.38 33 (b) Renvoi 2.39 - 2.42 34 - 36 (c) A rule of alternative reference: the law of the domicile 2.43 - 2.47 36 - 40 Exceptions to the lex loci rule 2.48 - 2.68 40 - 55 (1) Statutory exceptions 2.48 - 2.53 40 - 45 (a) Consular marriages 2-49 - 2.52 41 - 43 (i) Foreign Marriage Act 1892, section 4(1) 2.49 - 2.50 41 - 42 (ii) Foreign Marriage Act 1892, section 8 2.51 42 - 43 (iii) Foreign Marriage Order 1970 2.52 43 (b) Marriage of members of Her Majesty's Forces serving abroad 2.53 44 - 45 (2) Common law exception 2.54 - 2.68 45 - 55 (a) Should the common law exception be retained? 2.54 - 2.56 45 - 47 (b) Possible solutions if the common law exception is to be retained 2.57 - 2.60 47 - 55 (i) Preserve the common law exception without amendment 2.58 - 2.59 48 - 49 (ii) Statutory restatement and rationalisation of the common law exception 2.60 - 2.66 50 - 53 (iii) Leave the matter to public policy 2.67 53 - 54 (c) Summary 2.68 54 - 55 Paraqraph Paqe PART IU CHOICE OF LAW RULES GOVERNING CAPACITY TO MARRY 3.1 - 3.50 56 - 104 A. THE PRESENT LAW 3.2 - 3.13 56 - 69 (1) England and Wales 3.2 - 3.12 56 - 67 (a) General rule: capacity is governed by the law of the domicile 3.2 56 - 57 (b) The dual domicile and intended matrimonial home theories 3.3 - 3.4 57 - 60 (c) Exceptions to the general rule 3.5 - 3.12 60 - 67 (i) The rule in 3.6 60 - 61 (ii) Capacity by the law of the country of celebration 3.7 - 3.8 61 - 63 (iii) Capacity to marry after a divorce or annulment 3.9 63 - 64 (iv) Public policy 3.10 - 3.11 64 - 67 (v) The Royal Marriages Act 1772 3.12 67 (2) Scotland 3.13 60 - 69 B. CRITICISMS OF THE PRESENT LAW 3.14 - 3.17 69 - 72 C. POLICY OPTIONS FOR REFORM 3.18 - 3.50 72 - 104 Law of the forum 3.19 73 - 74 Real and substantial connection 3.20 74 Law of the country of celebration 3.21 - 3.23 75 - 78 The personal law 3.24 - 3.31 78 - 87 (i) Nationality 3.25 - 3-26 78 - 80 (ii) Domicile 3.27 - 3.28 80 - 82 (iii) Habitual residence 3.29 - 3.31 82 - 87 The appropriate governing law: law of the domicile 3.32 87 (vi) Paraqraph Paqe The test for determining the law of the domicile 3.33 - 3.38 87 - 96 (i) Intended matrimonial home test 3.34 - 3.35 88 - 92 (ii) Dual domicile test 3.36 92 - 93 (iii) An alternative reference test 3.37 94 - 95 (iv) Validity by domiciliary law of either party 3.38 95 - 96 Renvoi 3.39 96 Role of the law of the country of celebration 3.40 - 3.44 96 - 99 Role of the law of the forum 3.45 - 3.49 99 - 103 (i) Marriages celebrated in the forum 3.45 - 3.48 99 - 103 (ii) Public policy 3.49 103 Relationship between capacity to marry rules and divorce and nullity recognition rules 3.50 103 - 104 PART N TWO PARTICULAR PROBLEMS 4.1 - 4.13 105 - 113 Introduction 4.1 105 A. Characterisation of lack of parental consent 4.2 - 4.10 105 - 111 Possible solutions 4.8 - 4.10 109 - 111 (a) Make no legislative provision for the problem 4.8 109 (b) Legislative solutions 4.9 - 4.10 110 - 111 B. Retrospective changes in the law governing validity of marriage 4.11 - 4.13 111 - 113 PART V CHOICE OF LAW RULES IN NULLITY SUITS 5.1 - 5.55 114 - 152 A. Introduction 5.1 - 5.2 114 - 115 B. Grounds for annulment in the domestic laws of the United Kingdom 5.3 - 5.5 115 - 116 ' (a) England and Wales 5.3 115 - 116 (b) Scotland 5.4 116 (c) Northern Ireland 5.5 116 (vii) Paraqraph Page C. Choice of law rules: lack of consent 5.6 - 5.24 116 - 129 (1) Present Law 5.7 - 5.11 117 - 120 (a) England and Wales 5.8 - 5.9 117 - 119 (b) Scotland 5.10 120 (c) Northern Ireland 5.11 120 (2) What law ought to be applied? 5.12 - 5.24 120 - 129 (a) Real and substantial connection 5.13 121 (b) Law of the country of celebration 5.14 121 (c) Law of the forum 5.15 - 5.17 122 - 124 (d) Law of the domicile 5-18 - 5.24 124 - 129 (i) The Sottomayer rule 5.20 125 (ii) Which party's law? 5.21 - 5.23 126 - 128 (iii) Role of the law of the country of celebration 5.24 128 - 129 D. Choice of law rules: impotence and wilful refusal to consummate 5.25 - 5.43 129 - 143 (1) Present law 5.25 - 5.28 129 - 131 (a) England and Wales 5.26 130 (b) Scotland 5.21 130 (c) Northern Ireland 5.28 131 (2) What law ought to be, applied? 5.29 - 5.43 131 - 143 The options considered 5.29 - 5.33 131 - 135 The domicile test 5.34 - 5.43 135 - 143 . (a) Which party's law? 5.35 - 5.40 136 - 139 (b) Relevant date for determining domiciliary law 5.41 139 - 140 (c) Impotence and wilful refusal as grounds..for divorce 5.42 140 - 142 (d) Role of the law of the country of celebration 5.43 142 - 143 (viii) Paraqraph Paqe E.