Liability between spouses in modern French Law

Abstract

This article examines both legal regimes of civil liability of the French Law, which are enforceable between spouses. They refer as to damages arising from issues in which divorce is founded, as to those coming from the dissolution of marriage. The first one arises from common legislation about guilt-based liability, the second one, in the special regimen of the art. 266 of Code, with no consideration to guilt and based on the proof of “particularly severe consequences”. The contribution analyzes critically the character of both regimes, their asymmetry and practical application by the courts.

The conclusion is that these are two exceptional regimes, which allow to grant reparation in justified and systematically few cases (severe guilt or damages).