Law. Human. Environment

Marriage contract and cross-border marriage: Issues of legal regulation in the context of international family law and conflict of laws

Oksana Adamovych
Download article
Abstract

The relevance of aforementioned issue was due to the fact that in the context of numerous military conflicts, as well as the intensification of demographic phenomena related to migration processes, an effective mechanism for the legal regulation of cross-border marriage contracts is of great importance for the protection of the property rights of spouses. The aim of the scientific research was to conduct a comprehensive scientific and practical analysis of the peculiarities of recognising the validity of cross-border marriage contracts within different jurisdictions, as well as to draw conclusions and make recommendations of a scientific and practical nature. In the course of researching this topic, the comparative method, critical analysis method, interpretation method, abstraction method, logical-legal method, and legal modelling method were used. An analysis of approaches to understanding the essence and content of marriage contracts in common law and civil law countries was conducted. A definition and a system of characteristics of a cross-border marriage contract, which is the primary element of the autonomous concept, are proposed. The significance of Council Regulation No. 2016/1103 for the implementation of the conflict-of-laws method of regulating these legal relations in the European legal space was considered. Particular attention was paid to the specifics of the approach to the recognition of marriage contracts in countries with a common law system. Based on the results of the study, a system of proposals was developed aimed at ensuring the effective functioning of cross-border marriage contracts, taking into account the challenges of globalisation. Attention was focused on the need to define the fundamental standards of validity of cross-border marriage contracts. The practical significance of this study lies in the fact that the results obtained can be applied in the process of improving the conflict of laws regulation of contractual marriage relations in general, as well as the development of international legal regulation of the concept of cross-border marriage contracts in particular

Keywords

marriage contract; cross-border marriage; common law; continental legal system; international family law; conflict of laws regulation

Suggested citation
Adamovych, O. (2026). Marriage contract and cross-border marriage: Issues of legal regulation in the context of international family law and conflict of laws. Law. Human. Environment, 17(1), 9-22. https://doi.org/10.31548/law/1.2026.09
References
  1. Bruno, P. (2021). Pre-marital and pre-unional financial agreements and their circulation in the context of the new EU Regulations 2016/1103 and 2016/1104. Actualidad Jurídica Iberoamericana, 15, 34-51.
  2. Carobene, G. (2023). Forced marriages: Cross-cultural implications and legal connections. In G. G. Valtolina & L. Zanfrini (Eds.), Migrant families and religious belonging (pp. 71-83). Amsterdam: IOS Press. doi: 10.3233/STAL230005.
  3. Cazorla González, M.J., Giobbi, M., Kramberger Škerl, J., Ruggeri, L., & Winkler, S. (Eds.). (2020). Property relations of cross-border couples in the European Union. Napoli: Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane.
  4. Civil Code of Catalonia. (2005, September). Retrieved from https://portaljuridic.gencat.cat/ca/pjur_ocults/pjur_resultats_fitxa/?documentId=378408&action=fitxa.
  5. Civil Code of France. (2025, June). Retrieved from https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/id/LEGITEXT000006070721/.
  6. Civil Code of Germany. (1896, August). Retrieved from https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/.
  7. Civil Code of Spain. (1889, July). Retrieved from https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1889-4763.
  8. Damascelli, D. (2024). Determining the applicable law in matrimonial property regimes: On the interpretation of Article 26 Regulation (EU) No 2016/1103 in the absence of choice-of-law and common habitual residence. Rabelʼs Journal of Foreign and International Private Law, 88(2), 307-324. doi: 10.1628/rabelsz-2024-0032.
  9. Edelman, J. (2024). Pre and post nuptial agreements, vitiating factors, and the role of a trial judge. Retrieved from https://www.hcourt.gov.au/assets/assets/publications/speeches/current-justices/edelmanj/Edelman(2024)PeterNyghMemorialLecture.pdf. 
  10. Eskenazi, D. (2021). To say “YES” or to say “OUI”: How to get married as an international couple. Retrieved from https://thoughtleaders4.com/hnw-divorce/hnw-divorce-knowledge-hub-view/say-yes-or-to-say-oui-how-to-get-married-as-an-international-couple.
  11. Eskenazi, D., & Valentin, M. (2025). Nuptial agreements in the context of an international couple – views from France and Spain. In Insights. Special edition (pp. 4-16). New York: Ruchelman P.L.L.C.
  12. Fairbairn, C. (2023). Pre-nuptial agreements. Commons Library Research Briefing No. 03752. London: House of Commons Library.
  13. Family Code of Ukraine. (2002, January). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2947-14.
  14. Fursa, Y.Y. (2020). Certification of marriage contracts by the consul: correlation of norms of the Law of Ukraine “On International Private Law” and international contracts. Carpathian Legal Bulletin, 2, 138-142. doi: 10.32837/pyuv.v0i2.1031.
  15. Iasechko, S., Zaitsev, O., Shumilo, I., Mykolaiets, V., & Holubieva, V. (2022). Marriage contract as a regulator of non-property relations: Comparative characteristics of Ukrainian and European legislation. Ad Alta: Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 12(2), 17-20.
  16. Ikubanni, O.O., Oyebade, A.A., Ololu, T., Mohammed, I.B., Adam, A., Hussaini, M., & Hussaini, Y. (2023). Planning for divorce before the marriage: The concept of pre-nuptial agreement and its enforceability in Nigeria. NAU Journal of Commercial and Property Law, 10(2), 215-228.
  17. Judgement of the UK Supreme Court in Case “Radmacher v. Granatino”. (2010, March). Retrieved from https://supremecourt.uk/uploads/uksc_2009_0031_judgment_db72197d25.pdf.
  18. Kadi, X., & Qarri, E. (2025). The interplay between matrimonial property regimes and commercial law in Albanian legislation: Influences from the Italian Civil Code. Social and Legal Studios, 8(1), 96-104. doi: 10.32518/sals1.2025.96.
  19. Kumar, S. (2024). Exploring the future landscape of prenuptial agreements: Global trends and implications. International Journal of Social Science Exceptional Research, 3(3), 9-13.
  20. Lutska, H., Babetska, I., Shevchuk, L., Vivcharuk, D., Shutak, I., & Svorak, S. (2020). Marriage contract and agreement on division of joint property of spouses: Comparative legal analysis. International Journal of Management, 11(6), 123-131.
  21. Moret, J., Andrikopoulos, A., & Dahinden, J. (2021). Contesting categories: Cross-border marriages from the perspectives of the state, spouses and researchers. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 47(2), 325-342. doi: 10.1080/1369183X.2019.1625124.
  22. Pashynskyi, A.P., & Kalakura, V.Ya. (2023). Regulation (EU) No 2016/1103 as an example of regional unification of conflict of law rules for matrimonial property regimes. Journal of Kyiv University of Law, 1, 86-90. doi: 10.36695/2219-5521.1.2023.18.
  23. Regulation of the European Council No. 2016/1103 “On Implementing Enhanced Cooperation in the Area of Jurisdiction, Applicable Law and the Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions in Matters of Matrimonial Property Regimes”. (2016, June). Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/1103/oj/eng.
  24. Sánchez-Moraleda, A.M. (2019). The conflict rules of the Regulation 2016/1103 of the European Union on the matrimonial property regimes: The conflict rules materially oriented. Revista Electrónica de Derecho, 18(1). doi: 10.24840/2182-9845_2019-0001_0005.
  25. Török, É. (2023). Aspects of the matrimonial property contract in some European countries. Studia Iuridica Cassoviensia, 11(2), 80-89. doi: 10.33542/SIC2023-2-06.
  26. Viarengo, I., & Franzina, P. (Eds.) (2020). The EU regulations on the property regimes of international couples. A commentary. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781788115094.
  27. Xhuvani, E. (2024). Diversity of property regimes and marriage contract regime in Europe. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation, 5(6), 1151-1157.
  28. Yavor, O., & Kirichenko, T. (2024). Legal grounds for recognition of marriage and marriage agreement as fictitious. ScienceRise: Juridical Science, 1(27), 36-43. doi: 10.15587/2523-4153.2024.301251.