PRACTICAL GLOBAL FAMILY LAW UNITED STATESPDF电子书下载

Chapter 1 Roadmap to a Contextual Comparative Law Journey 3

Chapter 2 Legal Systems on Three Continents—The United States,China, and Italy 7

Comparing Geographic and Demographic Data 12

United States 12

China 13

Italy 14

Comparing Court Systems, Judges, and Legal Professions 16

United States 16

China 19

Italy 23

Chapter 3 Sources of Law 27

Where Does Law Come From?—An Overview 27

Common Law: As the Case May Be 27

Civil Law: An Ode to Codes 29

Sources of Divorce Law 34

United States 34

China 36

Italy 38

Chapter 4 Case Facts 43

Lily Chou v. Mario Penna 43

Lily's Story 44

Mario's Story 46

Three Countries, Three Lawsuits 48

U.S. 48

China 49

Italy 51

Chapter 5 Whether to Divorce: The Divorce Process 55

United States 55

Factors Influencing the Decision to Divorce 55

Where to File for Divorce 56

Obtaining Legal Representation 57

Initial Client Interview 58

Roles of Lawyers and Judges 59

Pretrial Informal Fact Investigation and Discovery 60

Interrogatories 62

Depositions 62

Requests for Production of Documents 62

Requests for Physical Examination 63

Requests for Admissions 64

Fact Presentation (i.e., "The Trial") 64

Jury Selection, If Applicable 64

Opening Statements 65

The Plaintiff's Case 65

Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law 65

The Defendant's Case 66

Rebuttal 66

Renewed Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law 66

Closing Arguments 66

Jury Deliberations 66

Verdict 67

China 67

Divorce Rates and Factors Influencing the Decision to Divorce 67

Where to File for Divorce 69

Divorce at a Registry 69

Divorce through Action 70

Divorce Proceedings 74

Filing and Accepting Lawsuits 74

Preparations before Trial 75

Courtroom Trial (Including Litigation Mediation) 76

Judgments (Including Rulings) and Enforcement Procedure 76

Italy 77

Factors Influencing the Decision to Divorce 77

Where to File for Separation and Divorce 79

Obtaining Legal Representation 79

Initial Client Interview 80

Roles of Lawyers and Judges 82

Phases of the Judicial Proceeding 83

Preliminary Phase before the President of the Tribunal 85

The Preparation Phase (istruttoria) 86

Documentary Evidence 90

Inspections 91

Expert Evidence 91

Decision Making Phase 93

Summary Chart—Whether to Divorce: The Divorce Process 95

Chapter 6 Grounds for Divorce 99

United States 99

China 102

Italy 109

Summary Chart—Grounds for Divorce 114

Chapter 7 Child Custody and Visitation 117

United States 117

Historical Background 117

Terminology 117

Agreement 118

Parenting Plans 119

Parenting Coordinators, Domestic RelationsDecision-Makers ("decision-makers"), and Arbitrators 120

Mediation 120

Parent Education Classes 121

Factors 122

Representation for the Child 123

The Child's Voice 124

Jurisdiction 125

China 126

Historical Background 126

Terminology 127

Custody and Guardianship 127

Factors for Custody 129

Visitation Rights 130

Agreement 131

The Child's Voice 131

Italy 132

Overview 132

Historical Background 133

Terminology 134

Shared Custody and Joint Parenting 134

Parental Educational Project 138

Agreement 140

Mediation 140

Evidence Obtained by the Judge ex Officio 141

Factors 141

Grandparents 142

Representation of the Child and the Child's Voice 142

Gender Violence and False Accusations of Pedophilia 143

Summary Chart—Child Custody and Visitation 144

Chapter 8 Child Support 145

United States 145

Post-Majority Support Obligations 145

Pre-Majority Termination of Child Support Obligations 146

Child Support Guidelines 146

Insurance 148

Modifications 149

Jurisdiction 149

Enforcement 149

China 150

Post-Majority Support Obligations 151

Pre-Majority Termination of Child Support Obligations 151

Child Support Guidelines 151

Insurance 153

Modification of Child Support Payments 153

Jurisdiction 154

Enforcement 156

Criminal Liability for Willful Nonsupport of Child 158

Italy 159

Alinenti (Basic Maintenance) 160

Post-Majority Support Obligations 161

Pre-Majority Termination of Child Support Obligations 163

Child Support Guidelines 163

Family Checks 165

Medical Insurance 165

Modifications and Jurisdiction 166

Consequences of Nonpayment to the Obligor 167

Summary Chart—Child Support 169

Chapter 9 Property Division 171

United States 171

Background 171

Three-Step Approach 172

Classification 172

Valuation 176

Distribution 176

China 178

Classification of Marital Property 179

Marital Property 179

Separate Property 180

Distribution of Marital Property 183

Distribution of Marital Property When the Parties Divorce at a Registry 183

Distribution of Marital Property When the Parties Divorce through Action 183

Principles of Distribution Pursuant to a Judgment 184

The Repayment of the Marital Debts 185

Infringement upon the Property Rights of the Other Party at the Time of Divorce 186

Economic Compensation at Divorce 186

Requirement of Claim for Economic Compensation at Divorce 187

Determination of Economic Compensation at Divorce 187

Italy 189

Community Property 190

Separate Property 191

Marriage Fund 193

Bank Accounts 193

Pensions 194

Employment Severance 195

Family Home 195

Distribution 196

Summary Chart—Property Division 198

Chapter 10 Spousal Support 201

United States 201

Background 201

Eligibility for Mimony 201

Types of Alimony 202

Rehabilitative Alimony 203

Alimony in futuro 204

Transitional Alimony 204

Alimony in solido 205

Mario and Lily 205

Modifications 206

Retirement 207

Insurance 208

Enforcement 208

China 209

Spousal Maintenance on Divorce and Compensation for Divorce Damage 209

Legislative Background 209

Financial Assistance 212

Conditions for Seeking Financial Assistance 212

The Way in Which Way Financial Assistance Is Offered 213

Termination of Financial Assistance 214

Compensation for Divorce Damage 216

Statutory Prerequisites for Compensation for Divorce Damage 216

The Scope of Divorce Damages 217

Italy 219

Background 219

Eligibility for Spousal Support during Separation 220

Spousal Support or Maintenance Check during Separation 221

Alimenti 223

Revisions 224

Divorce Check: Eligibility and Criteria for Determination 225

Summary Chart—Spousal Support 228

Chapter 11 Additional Considerations: Antenuptial Agreements,Settlement Agreements, Appeals, Attorney Fees 229

United States 229

Overview 229

Antenuptial Agreements 229

Settlement Agreements 230

Appeals 231

Attorney Fees 232

China 233

Antenuptial (Premarital) Agreements 233

Settlement Agreements 233

Settlement Agreement Reached Prior to Divorce Proceedings 233

Settlement Agreement Reached during Divorce Proceedings 233

Appeals 234

Procedures and Time Limit for Appeal 234

Procedures of Appeal 235

Time Limit for Appeal 235

Hearing of Appellate Cases 236

Review of Facts and Review of Laws 236

Time Limit for Final Judgment and Effects of Judgments and Rulings 237

The Burden of Appeal Costs 238

Attorney Fees 238

Italy 239

Antenuptial Agreements 239

Agreements before Divorce 240

Appeals— Separation 241

Appeals— Divorce 241

Legal Expenses 242

Summary Chart—Agreements, Appeals, and Attorney Fees 244

Chapter 12 Closing Perspectives—The Final Divorce Decree 245

United States 245

Child Custody 246

Child Support 247

Property Division 248

Spousal Support 248

China 249

Divorce Procedure 249

Procedure of Divorce at a Registry 250

Procedure of Divorce through Action 251

Grounds for Divorce 252

Statutory Grounds for Divorce at a Registry 252

Statutory Grounds for Divorce through Action 252

Child Custody and Visitation 253

Child Support 254

Property Division 255

Property Division at Divorce 255

Economic Compensation at Divorce 258

Financial Assistance on Divorce (Spousal Maintenance) 259

Compensation for Divorce Damage 259

Italy 260

Child Custody 261

Child Support 262

Property Division 262

Spousal Support 263

Conclusion 264

Appendix—Case Law Reporting and Citation Style 265

United States 265

China 266

Italy 268

Selected Bibliography 271

About the Authors 283

Index 285