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