What China’s new marriage law has to do with American social conservatism

By LORI | Published: SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 Last month, a new interpretation of Chinese law went into effect that awards ownership of property bought before marriage to the original buyer, rather than to the couple jointly, as the law had previously been. It’s easy to see how this change would... Read more →


The Legal Criteria for Divorce in a Court of Law

The Marriage Law of 1980 stipulated two different procedures for applying for a divorce. These have not been changed in the 2001 revision. The first is an administrative procedure and it is followed when the husband and wife both want a divorce and they have reached an agreement for the... Read more →


The Common Property under China Marriage Law

The common property refers to the property acquired and owned by the wife and the husband through the duration of marriage. The duration of marriage starts from the date of marriage to the date either party dies or the date of divorce. What is common property under China Marriage Law?... Read more →


New Home Front opens up in Divorce Battleground

When romance ends, property arguments begin. Beijing-based lawyer Zhang Jing said he has been bombarded with inquiries since Saturday, when divorce property rules changed. Previously, marital assets were divided equally unless either party was found guilty of bigamy, domestic violence, abandoning the family or living with a lover for three... Read more →


Marriage Law in China—Divorce by Agreement

Nobody expects divorce, but in life, somebody may encounter it. Differing from England, USA or other countries, in China, there exist two ways to end your marriage, divorce by agreement or by litigation which is different from many countries where only courts have rights to end your marriage legally. Divorce... Read more →


Chinese Law Could Make Divorced Women Homeless

By DIDI KIRSTEN TATLOW Published: September 7, 2011 BEIJING — Millions of Chinese women, and some men, woke on Aug. 13 to discover their spouse had, in effect, become their landlord. On that day, the Supreme Court’s new interpretation of the 1980 Marriage Law came into force, stipulating that property... Read more →


China’s New Marriage Law Favors Men Over Women

By Fang Xiao Created: August 26, 2011 China’s Supreme Court issued a new judicial proviso pertaining to marriage law applications on Aug. 12. The proviso became effective on Aug.13 and immediately triggered widespread argument and criticism. Marriage law in China previously stated that married couples share joint ownership of property.... Read more →


Divorce in contemporary China

After the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949, the country's new Marriage Law also explicitly provided for lawful divorces. Women were permitted to divorce their husbands and many did, sparking resistance from rural males especially. Kay Ann Johnson reported that tens of thousands of women in north central China... Read more →