China’s Supreme People’s Court Issues New Judicial Interpretation on Marital and Family Law

On November 25, 2024, the Supreme People’s Court of China adopted Interpretation (II) on the Application of the Marriage and Family Section of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China ("Interpretation II"). This judicial interpretation, which takes effect on February 1, 2025, clarifies legal standards governing marriage, divorce, asset division, and parental rights. The interpretation seeks to unify judicial practices and enhance legal predictability in resolving family law disputes. Below is an overview of the key provisions of Interpretation II.

1. Validity of Marriage and Spousal Obligations

Bigamous Marriages Remain Void

• A bigamous marriage is void ab initio (invalid from inception), regardless of whether the legal spouse has subsequently divorced or passed away. Courts will not recognize such marriages under any circumstances.

Divorce Cannot Be Challenged on Grounds of Alleged Falsity

• Once a divorce has been officially registered, neither party may later claim that the divorce was a sham or seek a court ruling declaring it invalid.

• This provision prevents fraudulent divorce filings used to evade debts, manipulate property division, or gain other financial advantages.

Restrictions on Unauthorized Transfers of Marital Assets

• If one spouse transfers marital property to a third party in connection with bigamy, an extramarital affair, or other breaches of spousal obligations, the transaction is voidable, and the non-transferring spouse may seek restoration of the improperly transferred assets.

• If one spouse, without the other’s consent, expends significant marital funds on virtual gifts or online live-streaming donations, the court may classify such spending as wasteful dissipation of marital assets, affecting property division in divorce proceedings.

2. Marital Property and Real Estate Ownership

Transfers of Real Property Before or During Marriage

• If a property transfer has not been officially recorded, courts may determine ownership based on the duration of the marriage, whether the couple has children, and fault in the divorce. Courts may also award equitable compensation to the non-owning spouse.

• If the transferring party proves that the recipient engaged in fraud, coercion, or other egregious misconduct, the court may rescind the transfer.

3. Real Estate Purchased with Financial Contributions from Parents

Full Contribution by One Spouse’s Parents

• If parents expressly designate the property as a gift solely to their child, it will be treated as separate propertyand will not be subject to division upon divorce.

• If no explicit designation exists, courts may award the property to the child of the contributing parents and determine whether equitable reimbursement is warranted for the other spouse, based on the length of the marriage, financial contributions, and other relevant factors.

Joint Contributions by Both Sets of Parents

• If both sets of parents contribute financially and expressly stipulate how ownership should be divided, the court will enforce the terms of the agreement.

• If no such agreement exists, the court will assess each party’s financial contributions and consider the overall circumstances of the marriage when determining property ownership and potential compensation.

4. Preventing Fraudulent Transfers and Concealment of Assets in Divorce

• If a property division agreement in a divorce settlement results in a fraudulent transfer or concealment of assets, creditors may petition the court to void the agreement.

• Courts will evaluate the overall distribution of marital assets, child support obligations, and the financial conduct of both parties before making a ruling.

5. Child Custody and Parental Visitation Rights

Prohibitions on Concealing or Abducting Minor Children

• If one parent unlawfully removes or conceals a child from the other parent, the court may issue a protection order or injunction requiring the child’s immediate return.

• Courts may consider such conduct as a negative factor in determining custody and may award custody to the non-offending parent.

Custody Determination in Divorce Cases

• If both parents seek primary custody, the court will consider domestic violence, substance abuse, gambling, or bigamy to ensure a ruling that serves the best interests of the child.

Child Support Obligations After Divorce

• If a divorce agreement waives one parent’s child support obligations, courts may override the agreement if the child has genuine financial needs.

• If the custodial parent’s financial situation worsens significantly, courts may modify child support paymentsaccordingly.

Post-Divorce Support Obligations of Step-Parents

• If a step-parent has provided care and education for a step-child, the court may determine that the step-parent has parental rights and obligations toward the child.

• After the step-parent and step-child relationship is terminated, the adult step-child may be required to provide financial support to the former step-parent, unless the step-parent engaged in abuse, neglect, or abandonment of the child.

6. Business Interests in Divorce

Transfer of Business Shares Without Spousal Consent

• If one spouse transfers equity in a closely held company acquired using marital assets, the other spouse cannot automatically void the transfer solely for lack of consent.

• However, if there is evidence of fraud, collusion, or intent to deprive the other spouse of their property rights, the court may invalidate the transaction.

Division of Business Interests in Divorce

• If both spouses jointly invested in a company and are listed as shareholders but have no clear ownership agreement, courts will not rely solely on corporate records but will instead consider financial contributions, shareholder agreements, and corporate bylaws.

7. Financial Compensation in Divorce

Reimbursement for Unequal Household Contributions

• A spouse who assumed disproportionate family responsibilities (e.g., child-rearing, elder care, or supporting the other spouse’s career) may seek equitable compensation in divorce proceedings.

• Courts will assess the economic impact of these contributions, the duration of the marriage, and the financial capacity of the paying spouse when determining compensation.

Post-Divorce Spousal Support for Vulnerable Ex-Spouses

• If a divorced spouse is elderly, disabled, or facing financial hardship, the court may order the financially capable ex-spouse to provide post-divorce spousal support.

8. Enforcement and Modification of Divorce Agreements

Property Transfers to Children in Divorce Settlements

• If a divorce settlement transfers marital property to a child, neither parent may unilaterally revoke the agreement unless both parties mutually consent or there is evidence of fraud, coercion, or undue influence.

• If a parent fails to comply with the agreement, the other parent or child may file a lawsuit to enforce the terms or seek damages.

9. Effective Date

Interpretation II takes effect on February 1, 2025, providing clear legal standards for Chinese courts when adjudicating marriage and family law disputes.

2024年11月25日，最高人民法院审判委员会第1933次会议通过了《最高人民法院关于适用〈中华人民共和国民法典〉婚姻家庭编的解释（二）》（以下简称《解释（二）》），并将于2025年2月1日起施行。该解释结合审判实践，针对婚姻家庭领域的常见争议问题作出详细规定，旨在统一法律适用，维护婚姻家庭和谐稳定。以下为《解释（二）》的主要内容：

一、婚姻关系及夫妻忠实义务

1. 重婚婚姻无效：即使在诉讼时合法婚姻已解除或配偶已去世，重婚关系仍然无效。

2. 虚假离婚无效：夫妻双方登记离婚后，任何一方不得以离婚是虚假的为由请求确认无效。

3. 婚内赠与财产限制：婚姻存续期间，一方因重婚、与他人同居等违反忠实义务的行为，将夫妻共同财产赠与第三方的，赠与无效，另一方可请求返还。

二、夫妻财产及房屋产权认定

4. 婚前或婚内房屋赠与：

   • 若房屋尚未完成过户登记，法院可根据婚姻存续时间、子女情况、离婚过错等因素判定归属，并决定是否补偿另一方。

   • 赠与方若能证明受赠方存在欺诈、胁迫或严重侵害其权益的情形，可请求撤销赠与。

5. 夫妻一方未经对方同意，在网络直播平台用夫妻共同财产高额打赏，法院可认定为“挥霍”，影响财产分割比例。

三、父母出资购房

6. 父母全额出资购房：

   • 若明确约定房屋赠与子女一方，则按照约定执行。

   • 若无约定，离婚时房屋可判归该子女，并根据婚姻状况决定是否补偿对方。

7. 双方父母共同出资购房：

   • 若出资有明确约定，则按约定执行。

   • 若无约定，则以出资比例为基础，综合考量婚姻状况进行判决，并决定是否补偿。

四、防止“假离婚”逃债

8. 离婚协议财产分割影响债权人权益的，债权人可申请撤销，法院将综合考虑财产整体分割、子女抚养负担、离婚过错等因素审查。

五、子女抚养及探望权

9. 禁止抢夺、隐匿未成年子女：

   • 任何一方抢夺、藏匿子女的，法院可签发人身安全保护令或人格权侵害禁令，责令立即归还子女。

   • 在抚养权判定中，该行为可作为不利因素考虑，优先判给未藏匿子女的一方。

10. 离婚诉讼中确定抚养权：

• 父母均要求抚养子女时，法院应综合考虑家庭暴力、吸毒、赌博、重婚等因素，确保对子女成长最有利。

11. 离婚协议关于抚养费的约定：

• 即使离婚协议中约定一方免除抚养费，若子女确有实际需要，法院仍可判决支付抚养费。

• 若直接抚养子女一方经济状况恶化，法院可调整抚养费金额。

12. 继父母子女关系：

• 继父母对子女形成抚养教育事实的，法院可认定其享有父母子女权利义务。

• 继父母与子女关系解除后，继子女成年后可被要求支付生活费，除非继父母曾虐待、遗弃该子女。

六、夫妻财产与市场交易

13. 婚姻存续期间，夫妻一方转让登记在自己名下的公司股权：

• 另一方不得仅以“未经同意”为由主张股权转让无效，除非能证明转让人与受让人恶意串通。

14. 夫妻以共同财产投资有限责任公司，均登记为股东：

• 若无约定，法院将根据出资额确定股权分割比例，而非仅依据股东名册或公司章程。

七、离婚经济补偿

15. 婚姻存续期间一方承担较多家庭义务（如抚育子女、照料老人）：

• 该方可在离婚诉讼中请求补偿，法院将综合考虑投入的时间、精力、经济能力等因素判定补偿数额。

16. 离婚后，一方存在年老、残疾、重病等生活困难：

• 若对方有经济负担能力，法院可判决其给予适当经济帮助。

八、离婚协议履行与撤销

17. 离婚协议中给予子女的财产：

• 一方不得单方面撤销，除非双方同意。

• 若一方拒绝履行，另一方或子女可向法院起诉要求履行或赔偿。

• 若协议签订时存在欺诈、胁迫等情形，一方可请求撤销相关条款。

九、施行时间

《解释（二）》自2025年2月1日起施行，为法院在审理婚姻家庭案件时提供明确的法律适用标准。

结语

《解释（二）》的出台进一步细化了婚姻家庭纠纷的法律适用标准，涵盖了夫妻财产、房产分割、父母出资购房、债务承担、子女抚养、市场交易等多个方面。该解释不仅为法官裁判提供了明确依据，也为社会公众在婚姻关系、家庭财产管理及子女抚养等方面提供了清晰的法律指引。

如对《解释（二）》的具体适用存在疑问，或需就婚姻家庭法律事务寻求专业意见，建议咨询律师，以确保自身合法权益得到充分保障。