PapersFlow Research Brief
Family and Matrimonial Law
Research Guide
What is Family and Matrimonial Law?
Family and Matrimonial Law is the branch of civil law that governs family relationships, marriage, divorce, inheritance, child custody, and related legal rights within domestic and social frameworks.
The field encompasses 40,057 papers addressing family law, inheritance practices, civil procedure, gender violence, testamentary freedom, legal rights, minor's capacity, and estate planning. Key works examine civil law systems based on codes like the Spanish Código Civil, as in "Sistema de Derecho civil" (1978) by Díez-Picazo and Gullón Ballesteros with 317 citations. Topics also include contractual good faith and essential breach in civil codes, reflecting multidisciplinary legal analysis.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Testamentary Freedom in Inheritance Law
This sub-topic covers doctrinal limits on will-making autonomy, forced heirship, and public policy restraints. Researchers compare civil law traditions with common law approaches to freedom of testation.
Minors' Legal Capacity in Family Law
This sub-topic examines age of majority, emancipation, and contractual capacity of minors in familial contexts. Researchers study judicial oversight and evolving standards for children's rights.
Estate Planning Strategies
This sub-topic addresses trusts, tax planning, and succession instruments for wealth preservation. Researchers analyze cross-jurisdictional planning amid globalization and family mobility.
Family Law Civil Procedure
This sub-topic focuses on procedural rules for divorce, custody, and adoption proceedings. Researchers evaluate efficiency reforms, alternative dispute resolution, and due process in family courts.
Legal Protection Against Gender Violence
This sub-topic covers restraining orders, criminal sanctions, and civil remedies for domestic abuse. Researchers assess effectiveness of protective legislation and victim support frameworks.
Why It Matters
Family and Matrimonial Law shapes inheritance distribution, spousal rights, and protections against gender violence through civil procedures and testamentary freedom principles. "EL ORIGEN DE LA FAMILIA, LA PROPIEDAD PRIVADA Y EL ESTADO" (1999) by Engels analyzes family origins tied to private property, cited 435 times, influencing debates on legal rights in family structures. "Tratado sobre la familia" (1987) by Becker, with 123 citations, applies economic models to family decisions like marriage and child-rearing, informing estate planning and minor's capacity rulings. "La buena fe contractual y los deberes secundarios de conducta" (2004) by Solarte Rodríguez details good faith in contracts relevant to matrimonial agreements, cited 161 times, ensuring fair enforcement in divorce settlements.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
"Sistema de Derecho civil" (1978) by Díez-Picazo and Gullón Ballesteros, as it offers a foundational systematic overview of civil law principles central to family and matrimonial issues, suitable for building core knowledge.
Key Papers Explained
"EL ORIGEN DE LA FAMILIA, LA PROPIEDAD PRIVADA Y EL ESTADO" (1999) by Engels sets historical context for family-property links (435 citations), which Becker's "Tratado sobre la familia" (1987, 123 citations) extends economically; Díez-Picazo and Gullón Ballesteros' "Sistema de Derecho civil" (1978, 317 citations) systematizes these into civil code applications, while Solarte Rodríguez's "La buena fe contractual y los deberes secundarios de conducta" (2004, 161 citations) applies good faith to contractual family duties.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Civil procedure in family disputes remains active through works like "Instituciones de derecho procesal civil" (1982, 144 citations) and breach analyses in "La noción de incumplimiento esencial en el 'código civil'" (2009, 138 citations); no recent preprints available.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EL ORIGEN DE LA FAMILIA, LA PROPIEDAD PRIVADA Y EL ESTADO | 1999 | — | 435 | ✕ |
| 2 | Sistema de Derecho civil | 1978 | Virtual Defense Librar... | 317 | ✕ |
| 3 | Global Prescriptions | 2002 | University of Michigan... | 261 | ✕ |
| 4 | L'ordine giuridico medievale | 1997 | Laterza eBooks | 232 | ✕ |
| 5 | Explicaciones de derecho civil chileno y comparado | 2013 | — | 174 | ✕ |
| 6 | Derecho civil, parte general | 1978 | Boletín Mexicano de De... | 170 | ✓ |
| 7 | La buena fe contractual y los deberes secundarios de conducta | 2004 | Vniversitas. Revista d... | 161 | ✕ |
| 8 | Instituciones de derecho procesal civil | 1982 | Editorial Porrúa eBooks | 144 | ✕ |
| 9 | La noción de incumplimiento esencial en el "código civil" | 2009 | Revista de derecho (Va... | 138 | ✓ |
| 10 | Tratado sobre la familia | 1987 | Dialnet (Universidad d... | 123 | ✕ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What principles underlie civil law systems in family matters?
"Sistema de Derecho civil" (1978) by Díez-Picazo and Gullón Ballesteros provides a systematic view of civil law centered on the Código Civil across four volumes. It covers core institutions for family and obligations. The work holds 317 citations.
How does good faith apply to matrimonial contracts?
"La buena fe contractual y los deberes secundarios de conducta" (2004) by Solarte Rodríguez examines contractual good faith, deriving secondary duties of conduct in agreements. This principle acts in family law contexts like marriage contracts. The paper has 161 citations.
What defines essential breach in civil codes for family disputes?
"La noción de incumplimiento esencial en el 'código civil'" (2009) by Vidal Olivares explains that resolution proceeds not only from definitive breaches but also when creditor interest decays. It applies to obligations in family and inheritance cases. Cited 138 times.
What economic perspectives exist on family law?
"Tratado sobre la familia" (1987) by Becker treats family as an economic unit in marriage, fertility, and investment decisions. It connects to legal rights and estate planning. The work received 123 citations.
How do medieval legal orders inform modern family law?
"L'ordine giuridico medievale" (1997) by Grossi explores medieval juridical orders influencing inheritance and family structures. These foundations persist in civil procedure today. It has 232 citations.
Open Research Questions
- ? How do modern civil codes balance testamentary freedom with protections for minors' capacity in inheritance disputes?
- ? What role does contractual good faith play in resolving essential breaches within matrimonial agreements?
- ? In what ways do economic models of family units predict outcomes in divorce and estate planning under civil law?
- ? How have historical analyses of family origins and private property shaped contemporary gender violence protections?
Recent Trends
The field holds 40,057 works with no specified 5-year growth rate; highly cited papers from 1978-2009 dominate, such as "Sistema de Derecho civil" (317 citations) and "La buena fe contractual y los deberes secundarios de conducta" (161 citations), indicating sustained focus on civil code interpretations without new preprints or news in the last 12 months.
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