（１９８０年９月１０日第五屆全國(guó)人民代表大會(huì)第三次會(huì)議通過根據(jù)２００１年４月２８日第九屆全國(guó)人民代表大會(huì)常務(wù)委員會(huì)第二十一次會(huì)議《關(guān)于修改〈中華人民共和國(guó)婚姻法〉的決定》修正）
目錄
第一章 總 則
第二章 結(jié) 婚
第三章 家庭關(guān)系
第四章 離 婚
第五章 救助措施與法律責(zé)任
第六章 附 則
第一章 總 則
第一條 本法是婚姻家庭關(guān)系的基本準(zhǔn)則。
第二條 實(shí)行婚姻自由、一夫一妻、男女平等的婚姻制度。
保護(hù)婦女、兒童和老人的合法權(quán)益。
實(shí)行計(jì)劃生育。
第三條 禁止包辦、買賣婚姻和其他干涉婚姻自由的行為。禁止借婚姻索取財(cái)物。
禁止重婚。禁止有配偶者與他人同居。禁止家庭暴力。禁止家庭成員間的虐待和遺棄。
第四條 夫妻應(yīng)當(dāng)互相忠實(shí)，互相尊重；家庭成員間應(yīng)當(dāng)敬老愛幼，互相幫助，維護(hù)平等、和睦、文明的婚姻家庭關(guān)系。
第二章 結(jié) 婚
第五條 結(jié)婚必須男女雙方完全自愿，不許任何一方對(duì)他方加以強(qiáng)迫或任何第三者加以干涉。
第六條 結(jié)婚年齡，男不得早于二十二周歲，女不得早于二十周歲。晚婚晚育應(yīng)予鼓勵(lì)。
第七條 有下列情形之一的，禁止結(jié)婚：
（一）直系血親和三代以內(nèi)的旁系血親；
（二）患有醫(yī)學(xué)上認(rèn)為不應(yīng)當(dāng)結(jié)婚的疾病。
第八條 要求結(jié)婚的男女雙方必須親自到婚姻登記機(jī)關(guān)進(jìn)行結(jié)婚登記。符合本法規(guī)定的，予以登記，發(fā)給結(jié)婚證。取得結(jié)婚證，即確立夫妻關(guān)系。未辦理結(jié)婚登記的，應(yīng)當(dāng)補(bǔ)辦登記。
第九條 登記結(jié)婚后，根據(jù)男女雙方約定，女方可以成為男方家庭的成員，男方可以成為女方家庭的成員。
第十條 有下列情形之一的，婚姻無效：
�。ㄒ唬┲鼗榈�；
�。ǘ┯薪菇Y(jié)婚的親屬關(guān)系的；
�。ㄈ┗榍盎加嗅t(yī)學(xué)上認(rèn)為不應(yīng)當(dāng)結(jié)婚的疾病，婚后尚未治愈的；
（四）未到法定婚齡的。
第十一條 因脅迫結(jié)婚的，受脅迫的一方可以向婚姻登記機(jī)關(guān)或人民法院請(qǐng)求撤銷該婚姻。受脅迫的一方撤銷婚姻的請(qǐng)求，應(yīng)當(dāng)自結(jié)婚登記之日起一年內(nèi)提出。被非法限制人身自由的當(dāng)事人請(qǐng)求撤銷婚姻的，應(yīng)當(dāng)自恢復(fù)人身自由之日起一年內(nèi)提出。
第十二條 無效或被撤銷的婚姻，自始無效。當(dāng)事人不具有夫妻的權(quán)利和義務(wù)。同居期間所得的財(cái)產(chǎn)，由當(dāng)事人協(xié)議處理；協(xié)議不成時(shí)，由人民法院根據(jù)照顧無過錯(cuò)方的原則判決。對(duì)重婚導(dǎo)致的婚姻無效的財(cái)產(chǎn)處理，不得侵害合法婚姻當(dāng)事人的財(cái)產(chǎn)權(quán)益。當(dāng)事人所生的子女，適用本法有關(guān)父母子女的規(guī)定。
第三章 家庭關(guān)系
第十三條 夫妻在家庭中地位平等。
第十四條 夫妻雙方都有各用自己姓名的權(quán)利。
第十五條 夫妻雙方都有參加生產(chǎn)、工作、學(xué)習(xí)和社會(huì)活動(dòng)的自由，一方不得對(duì)他方加以限制或干涉。
第十六條 夫妻雙方都有實(shí)行計(jì)劃生育的義務(wù)。
第十七條 夫妻在婚姻關(guān)系存續(xù)期間所得的下列財(cái)產(chǎn)，歸夫妻共同所有：
（一）工資、獎(jiǎng)金；
�。ǘ┥a(chǎn)、經(jīng)營(yíng)的收益；
�。ㄈ┲R(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)的收益；
（四）繼承或贈(zèng)與所得的財(cái)產(chǎn)，但本法第十八條第三項(xiàng)規(guī)定的除外；
�。ㄎ澹┢渌麘�(yīng)當(dāng)歸共同所有的財(cái)產(chǎn)。
夫妻對(duì)共同所有的財(cái)產(chǎn)，有平等的處理權(quán)。
第十八條 有下列情形之一的，為夫妻一方的財(cái)產(chǎn)：
（一）一方的婚前財(cái)產(chǎn)；
�。ǘ┮环揭蛏眢w受到傷害獲得的醫(yī)療費(fèi)、殘疾人生活補(bǔ)助費(fèi)等費(fèi)用；
（三）遺囑或贈(zèng)與合同中確定只歸夫或妻一方的財(cái)產(chǎn)；
（四）一方專用的生活用品；
（五）其他應(yīng)當(dāng)歸一方的財(cái)產(chǎn)。
第十九條 夫妻可以約定婚姻關(guān)系存續(xù)期間所得的財(cái)產(chǎn)以及婚前財(cái)產(chǎn)歸各自所有、共同所有或部分各自所有、部分共同所有。約定應(yīng)當(dāng)采用書面形式。沒有約定或約定不明確的，適用本法第十七條、第十八條的規(guī)定。
夫妻對(duì)婚姻關(guān)系存續(xù)期間所得的財(cái)產(chǎn)以及婚前財(cái)產(chǎn)的約定，對(duì)雙方具有約束力。
夫妻對(duì)婚姻關(guān)系存續(xù)期間所得的財(cái)產(chǎn)約定歸各自所有的，夫或妻一方對(duì)外所負(fù)的債務(wù)，第三人知道該約定的，以夫或妻一方所有的財(cái)產(chǎn)清償。
第二十條 夫妻有互相扶養(yǎng)的義務(wù)。
一方不履行扶養(yǎng)義務(wù)時(shí)，需要扶養(yǎng)的一方，有要求對(duì)方付給扶養(yǎng)費(fèi)的權(quán)利。
第二十一條 父母對(duì)子女有撫養(yǎng)教育的義務(wù)；子女對(duì)父母有贍養(yǎng)扶助的義務(wù)。
父母不履行撫養(yǎng)義務(wù)時(shí)，未成年的或不能獨(dú)立生活的子女，有要求父母付給撫養(yǎng)費(fèi)的權(quán)利。
子女不履行贍養(yǎng)義務(wù)時(shí)，無勞動(dòng)能力的或生活困難的父母，有要求子女付給贍養(yǎng)費(fèi)的權(quán)利。
禁止溺嬰、棄嬰和其他殘害嬰兒的行為。
第二十二條 子女可以隨父姓，可以隨母姓。
第二十三條 父母有保護(hù)和教育未成年子女的權(quán)利和義務(wù)。在未成年子女對(duì)國(guó)家、集體或他人造成損害時(shí)，父母有承擔(dān)民事責(zé)任的義務(wù)。
第二十四條 夫妻有相互繼承遺產(chǎn)的權(quán)利。
父母和子女有相互繼承遺產(chǎn)的權(quán)利。
第二十五條 非婚生子女享有與婚生子女同等的權(quán)利，任何人不得加以危害和歧視。
不直接撫養(yǎng)非婚生子女的生父或生母，應(yīng)當(dāng)負(fù)擔(dān)子女的生活費(fèi)和教育費(fèi)，直至子女能獨(dú)立生活為止。
第二十六條 國(guó)家保護(hù)合法的收養(yǎng)關(guān)系。養(yǎng)父母和養(yǎng)子女間的權(quán)利和義務(wù)，適用本法對(duì)父母子女關(guān)系的有關(guān)規(guī)定。
養(yǎng)子女和生父母間的權(quán)利和義務(wù)，因收養(yǎng)關(guān)系的成立而消除。
第二十七條 繼父母與繼子女間，不得虐待或歧視。
繼父或繼母和受其撫養(yǎng)教育的繼子女間的權(quán)利和義務(wù)，適用本法對(duì)父母子女關(guān)系的有關(guān)規(guī)定。
第二十八條 有負(fù)擔(dān)能力的祖父母、外祖父母，對(duì)于父母已經(jīng)死亡或父母無力撫養(yǎng)的未成年的孫子女、外孫子女，有撫養(yǎng)的義務(wù)。有負(fù)擔(dān)能力的孫子女、外孫子女，對(duì)于子女已經(jīng)死亡或子女無力贍養(yǎng)的祖父母、外祖父母，有贍養(yǎng)的義務(wù)。
第二十九條 有負(fù)擔(dān)能力的兄、姐，對(duì)于父母已經(jīng)死亡或父母無力撫養(yǎng)的未成年的弟、妹，有扶養(yǎng)的義務(wù)。由兄、姐扶養(yǎng)長(zhǎng)大的有負(fù)擔(dān)能力的弟、妹，對(duì)于缺乏勞動(dòng)能力又缺乏生活來源的兄、姐，有扶養(yǎng)的義務(wù)。
第三十條 子女應(yīng)當(dāng)尊重父母的婚姻權(quán)利，不得干涉父母再婚以及婚后的生活。子女對(duì)父母的贍養(yǎng)義務(wù)，不因父母的婚姻關(guān)系變化而終止。
第四章 離 婚
第三十一條 男女雙方自愿離婚的，準(zhǔn)予離婚。雙方必須到婚姻登記機(jī)關(guān)申請(qǐng)離婚�；橐龅怯洐C(jī)關(guān)查明雙方確實(shí)是自愿并對(duì)子女和財(cái)產(chǎn)問題已有適當(dāng)處理時(shí)，發(fā)給離婚證。
第三十二條 男女一方要求離婚的，可由有關(guān)部門進(jìn)行調(diào)解或直接向人民法院提出離婚訴訟。
人民法院審理離婚案件，應(yīng)當(dāng)進(jìn)行調(diào)解；如感情確已破裂，調(diào)解無效，應(yīng)準(zhǔn)予離婚。
有下列情形之一，調(diào)解無效的，應(yīng)準(zhǔn)予離婚：
�。ㄒ唬┲鼗榛蛴信渑颊吲c他人同居的；
�。ǘ⿲�(shí)施家庭暴力或虐待、遺棄家庭成員的；
（三）有賭博、吸毒等惡習(xí)屢教不改的；
（四）因感情不和分居滿二年的；
�。ㄎ澹┢渌麑�(dǎo)致夫妻感情破裂的情形。
一方被宣告失蹤，另一方提出離婚訴訟的，應(yīng)準(zhǔn)予離婚。
第三十三條 現(xiàn)役軍人的配偶要求離婚，須得軍人同意，但軍人一方有重大過錯(cuò)的除外。
第三十四條 女方在懷孕期間、分娩后一年內(nèi)或中止妊娠后六個(gè)月內(nèi)，男方不得提出離婚。女方提出離婚的，或人民法院認(rèn)為確有必要受理男方離婚請(qǐng)求的，不在此限。
第三十五條 離婚后，男女雙方自愿恢復(fù)夫妻關(guān)系的，必須到婚姻登記機(jī)關(guān)進(jìn)行復(fù)婚登記。
第三十六條 父母與子女間的關(guān)系，不因父母離婚而消除。離婚后，子女無論由父或母直接撫養(yǎng)，仍是父母雙方的子女。
離婚后，父母對(duì)于子女仍有撫養(yǎng)和教育的權(quán)利和義務(wù)。
離婚后，哺乳期內(nèi)的子女，以隨哺乳的母親撫養(yǎng)為原則。哺乳期后的子女，如雙方因撫養(yǎng)問題發(fā)生爭(zhēng)執(zhí)不能達(dá)成協(xié)議時(shí)，由人民法院根據(jù)子女的權(quán)益和雙方的具體情況判決。
第三十七條 離婚后，一方撫養(yǎng)的子女，另一方應(yīng)負(fù)擔(dān)必要的生活費(fèi)和教育費(fèi)的一部或全部，負(fù)擔(dān)費(fèi)用的多少和期限的長(zhǎng)短，由雙方協(xié)議；協(xié)議不成時(shí)，由人民法院判決。
關(guān)于子女生活費(fèi)和教育費(fèi)的協(xié)議或判決，不妨礙子女在必要時(shí)向父母任何一方提出超過協(xié)議或判決原定數(shù)額的合理要求。
第三十八條 離婚后，不直接撫養(yǎng)子女的父或母，有探望子女的權(quán)利，另一方有協(xié)助的義務(wù)。
行使探望權(quán)利的方式、時(shí)間由當(dāng)事人協(xié)議；協(xié)議不成時(shí)，由人民法院判決。
父或母探望子女，不利于子女身心健康的，由人民法院依法中止探望的權(quán)利；中止的事由消失后，應(yīng)當(dāng)恢復(fù)探望的權(quán)利。
第三十九條 離婚時(shí)，夫妻的共同財(cái)產(chǎn)由雙方協(xié)議處理；協(xié)議不成時(shí)，由人民法院根據(jù)財(cái)產(chǎn)的具體情況，照顧子女和女方權(quán)益的原則判決。
夫或妻在家庭土地承包經(jīng)營(yíng)中享有的權(quán)益等，應(yīng)當(dāng)依法予以保護(hù)。
第四十條 夫妻書面約定婚姻關(guān)系存續(xù)期間所得的財(cái)產(chǎn)歸各自所有，一方因撫育子女、照料老人、協(xié)助另一方工作等付出較多義務(wù)的，離婚時(shí)有權(quán)向另一方請(qǐng)求補(bǔ)償，另一方應(yīng)當(dāng)予以補(bǔ)償。
第四十一條 離婚時(shí)，原為夫妻共同生活所負(fù)的債務(wù)，應(yīng)當(dāng)共同償還。共同財(cái)產(chǎn)不足清償?shù)�，或�?cái)產(chǎn)歸各自所有的，由雙方協(xié)議清償；協(xié)議不成時(shí)，由人民法院判決。
第四十二條 離婚時(shí)，如一方生活困難，另一方應(yīng)從其住房等個(gè)人財(cái)產(chǎn)中給予適當(dāng)幫助。具體辦法由雙方協(xié)議；協(xié)議不成時(shí)，由人民法院判決。
第五章 救助措施與法律責(zé)任
第四十三條 實(shí)施家庭暴力或虐待家庭成員，受害人有權(quán)提出請(qǐng)求，居民委員會(huì)、村民委員會(huì)以及所在單位應(yīng)當(dāng)予以勸阻、調(diào)解。
對(duì)正在實(shí)施的家庭暴力，受害人有權(quán)提出請(qǐng)求，居民委員會(huì)、村民委員會(huì)應(yīng)當(dāng)予以勸阻；公安機(jī)關(guān)應(yīng)當(dāng)予以制止。
實(shí)施家庭暴力或虐待家庭成員，受害人提出請(qǐng)求的，公安機(jī)關(guān)應(yīng)當(dāng)依照治安管理處罰的法律規(guī)定予以行政處罰。
第四十四條 對(duì)遺棄家庭成員，受害人有權(quán)提出請(qǐng)求，居民委員會(huì)、村民委員會(huì)以及所在單位應(yīng)當(dāng)予以勸阻、調(diào)解。
對(duì)遺棄家庭成員，受害人提出請(qǐng)求的，人民法院應(yīng)當(dāng)依法作出支付扶養(yǎng)費(fèi)、撫養(yǎng)費(fèi)、贍養(yǎng)費(fèi)的判決。
第四十五條 對(duì)重婚的，對(duì)實(shí)施家庭暴力或虐待、遺棄家庭成員構(gòu)成犯罪的，依法追究刑事責(zé)任。受害人可以依照刑事訴訟法的有關(guān)規(guī)定，向人民法院自訴；公安機(jī)關(guān)應(yīng)當(dāng)依法偵查，人民檢察院應(yīng)當(dāng)依法提起公訴。
第四十六條 有下列情形之一，導(dǎo)致離婚的，無過錯(cuò)方有權(quán)請(qǐng)求損害賠償：
（一）重婚的；
（二）有配偶者與他人同居的；
（三）實(shí)施家庭暴力的；
（四）虐待、遺棄家庭成員的。
第四十七條 離婚時(shí)，一方隱藏、轉(zhuǎn)移、變賣、毀損夫妻共同財(cái)產(chǎn)，或偽造債務(wù)企圖侵占另一方財(cái)產(chǎn)的，分割夫妻共同財(cái)產(chǎn)時(shí)，對(duì)隱藏、轉(zhuǎn)移、變賣、毀損夫妻共同財(cái)產(chǎn)或偽造債務(wù)的一方，可以少分或不分。離婚后，另一方發(fā)現(xiàn)有上述行為的，可以向人民法院提起訴訟，請(qǐng)求再次分割夫妻共同財(cái)產(chǎn)。
人民法院對(duì)前款規(guī)定的妨害民事訴訟的行為，依照民事訴訟法的規(guī)定予以制裁。
第四十八條 對(duì)拒不執(zhí)行有關(guān)扶養(yǎng)費(fèi)、撫養(yǎng)費(fèi)、贍養(yǎng)費(fèi)、財(cái)產(chǎn)分割、遺產(chǎn)繼承、探望子女等判決或裁定的，由人民法院依法強(qiáng)制執(zhí)行。有關(guān)個(gè)人和單位應(yīng)負(fù)協(xié)助執(zhí)行的責(zé)任。
第四十九條 其他法律對(duì)有關(guān)婚姻家庭的違法行為和法律責(zé)任另有規(guī)定的，依照其規(guī)定。
第六章 附 則
第五十條 民族自治地方的人民代表大會(huì)有權(quán)結(jié)合當(dāng)?shù)孛褡寤橐黾彝サ木唧w情況，制定變通規(guī)定。自治州、自治縣制定的變通規(guī)定，報(bào)省、自治區(qū)、直轄市人民代表大會(huì)常務(wù)委員會(huì)批準(zhǔn)后生效。自治區(qū)制定的變通規(guī)定，報(bào)全國(guó)人民代表大會(huì)常務(wù)委員會(huì)批準(zhǔn)后生效。
第五十一條 本法自１９８１年１月１日起施行。
�。保梗担澳辏翟拢比疹C行的《中華人民共和國(guó)婚姻法》，自本法施行之日起廢止。
Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China
�。ˋdopted at the Third Session of the Fifth National People's Congress on September 10,1980, and amended in accordance with Decision Regarding the Amendment (of Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China) passed at 21st Session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress on April 28,2001）
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 This Law is the Fundamental code governing marriage and family relations.
Article 2 A marriage system based on the free choice of partners, on monogamy and on equality between man and woman shall be applied.
The lawful rights and interests of women, children and old people shall be protected.
Family planning shall be practised.
Article 3 Marriage upon arbitrary decision by any third party, mercenary marriage and any other acts of interference in the freedom of marriage shall be prohibited. The exaction of money or gifts in connection with marriage shall be prohibited.
Bigamy shall be prohibited. Cohabitation of a married person with any third party shall be prohibited. Domestic violence shall be prohibited. Within the family maltreatment and desertion of one family member by another shall be prohibited.
Article 4 Husband and wife shall be faithful to and respect each other. Within the family family members shall respect the old and cherish the young, help one another, and maintain equal, harmonious and civilized marriage and family relations.
Chapter II Marriage Contract
Article 5 Marriage must by based upon the complete willingness of both man and woman. Neither party may use compulsion on the other party and no third party may interfere.
Article 6 No marriage may be contracted before the man has reached 22 years of age and the woman 20 years of age. Late marriage and late childbirth shall be encouraged.
Article 7 No marriage may be contracted under any of the following circumstances:
(1)if the man and the woman are lineal relatives by blood, or collateral relatives by blood up to the third degree of kinship; and
(2)if the man or the woman is suffering from any disease, which is regarded by medical science as rendering a person unfit for marriage.
Article 8 Both the man and the woman desiring to contract a marriage shall register in person with the marriage registration office. If the proposed marriage is found to conform with the provisions of this Law, the couple shall be allowed to register and issued marriage certificates. The husband and wife relationship shall be established as soon as they acquire the marriage certificates. In the absence of the marriage registration, the man and the woman shall go through the procedures subsequently.
Article 9 After a marriage has been registered, the woman may become a member of the man"s family or vice versa, depending on the agreed wishes of the two parties.
Article 10 Marriage shall be invalid under any of the following circumstances:
(1)if one party commits bigamy;
(2)if the man and the woman are relatives by blood up to the third degree of kinship;
(3)if, before marriage, one party is suffering from a disease which is regarded by medical science as rendering a person unfit for marriage and, after marriage, a cure is not effected; and
(4)if the legally marriageable age is not attained.
Article 11 In the case of a marriage made under coercion, the coerced party may make a request to the marriage registration office or the people's court for the dissolution of the marriage contract. Such a request shall be made within one year as of the marriage registration date. The party concerned whose personal freedom is curbed illegitimately shall make a request for dissolution of the marriage contract within one year as of the date on which his or her personal freedom is restored.
Article 12 Void or dissolved marriage shall be invalid from its inception. Neither party concerned shall have the rights and duties of husband or wife. The property acquired during their cohabitation shall be subject to disposition by mutual agreement. If they fail to reach an agreement, the people's court shall give a ruling on the principle of caring for the no-fault party. The disposition of the property of void marriage caused by bigamy may not be to the detriment of the property rights and interests of the party concerned to the lawful marriage. The provisions of this Law regarding parents and children shall apply to the children born from the parties concerned.
Chapter III Family Relations
Article 13 Husband and wife shall have equal status in the family.
Article 14 Both husband and wife shall have the right to use his or her own surname and given name.
Article 15 Both husband and wife shall have the freedom to engage in production and other work, to study and to participate in social activities; neither party may restrict or interfere with the other party.
Article 16 Both husband and wife shall have the duty to practise family planning.
Article 17 The following items of property acquired by husband and wife during the period in which they are under contract of marriage shall be jointly possessed:
(1)pay and bonus;
(2)earnings from production and operation;
(3)earnings from intellectual property rights;
(4)property obtained from inheritance of gift except as provided for in Article 18(3) of this Law; and
(5)Any other items of property which shall be in his or her separate possession.
Article 19 So far as the property acquired during the period in which they are under contract of marriage and the prenuptial property are concerned, husband and wife may agree as to whether they should be in the separate possession, joint possession or partly separate possession and partly joint possession. The agreement shall be made in writing. The provisions of Articles 17 and 18 of this Law shall apply to the absence of such an agreement or to a vague one.
The agreement reached between the husband and wife on the property acquired during the period in which they are under contract of marriage and on the prenuptial property is binding on both parties.
If husband and wife agree, as is known to the third party, to separately possess their property acquired during their marriage life, the debt owed by the husband or the wife to any other person, shall be paid off out of the property separately possessed by him or her.
Article 20 Husband and wife shall have the duty to maintain each other.
If one party fails to perform this duty, the party in need of maintenance shall have the right to demand maintenance payments from the other party.
Article 21 Parents shall have the duty to bring up and educate their children; children shall have the duty to support and assist their parents.
If parents fail to perform their duty, children who are minors or who are incapable of living on their own shall have the right to demand the cost of upbringing from their parents.
If children fail to perform their duty, parents who are unable to work or have difficulties in providing for themselves shall have the right to demand support payments from their children.
Infant drowning, deserting and any other acts causing serious harm to infants and infanticide shall be prohibited.
Article 22 Children may adopt their father's or their mother's surname.
Article 23 Parents shall have the right and duty to subject their children who are minors to discipline and to protect them. If children who are minors cause damage to the state, the collective, or individuals, their parents shall have the duty to bear civil liability.
Article 24 Husband and wife shall have the right to inherit each other's property.
Parents and children shall have right to inherit each other's property.
Article 25 Children born out of wedlock shall enjoy the same rights as children born in wedlock. No one may harm or discriminate against them.
The natural father or the natural mother who does not rear directly his or her child born out of wedlock shall bear the child's living and educational expenses until the child can support himself or herself.
Article 26 The state shall protect lawful adoption. The relevant provisions of this Law governing the relationship between parents and children shall apply to the rights and duties in the relationship between foster parents and foster children.
The right and duties in the relationship between a foster child and his or her natural parents shall terminate with the establishment of this adoption.
Article 27 Maltreatment or discrimination shall not be permitted between stepparents and stepchildren.
The relevant provisions in this Law governing the relationship between parents and children shall apply to the rights and duties in the relationship between stepfathers or stepmothers and their stepchildren who receive care and education from them.
Article 28 Grandparents or maternal grandparents who can afford it shall have the duty to bring up their grandchildren or maternal grandchildren who are minors and whose parents are dead or have no capacity of bringing them up. Grandchildren or maternal grandchildren who can afford it shall have the duty to support their grandparents or maternal grandparents whose children are dead or cannot afford it.
Article 29 Elder brothers or elder sisters who can afford it shall have the duty to bring up their younger brothers or sisters who are minors if their parents are dead or have no means to bring them up. Younger brothers or sisters who have been brought up by their elder brothers or elder sisters and have the means of maintenance shall have the duty to support them who are lacking in the capacity to work and in the source of income.
Article 30 Children shall have respect for their parents" matrimonial rights and shall not interfere in their parents" remarriage and postnuptial life. Children's duty to maintain their parents shall not terminate with the change in their parents" matrimonial relationship.
Chapter IV Divorce
Article 31 Divorce shall be granted if husband and wife both desire it. Both parties shall apply to the marriage registration office for divorce. The marriage registration office, after clearly establishing that divorce is desired by both parties and that appropriate arrangements have been made for the care of any children and the disposition of property, shall issue the divorce certificates.
Article 32 When one party alone desires a divorce, the organizations concerned may carry out mediation, or the party may appeal directly to a people's court to start divorce proceedings.
In dealing with a divorce case, the people's court should carry out mediation between the parties. Divorce shall be granted if mediation fails because mutual affection no long exists.
Divorce shall be granted if mediation fails under any of the following circumstances:
(1)bigamy or, cohabitation of a married person with any third party;
(2)domestic violence or, maltreatment and desertion of one family member by another;
(3)bad habits of gamble or drug addiction which remain incorrigible despite repeated admonition;
(4)separation caused by incompatibility, which lasts two full years; and
(5)any other circumstances causing alienation of mutual affection.
Divorce shall be granted if one party is declared to be missing and the other party thereby files an action for divorce.
Article 33 If the spouse of a soldier in active military service desires a divorce, the soldier's consent must b e obtained, except that the soldier commits a serious fault.
Article 34 A husband may not apply for a divorce when his wife is pregnant or within one year after the birth of a child or within six months after pregnancy suspension. This restriction shall not apply in cases where the wife applies for a divorce, or when the people's court deems it necessary to accept the divorce application made by the husband.
Article 35 If, after divorce, both parties desire to resume their husband-and-wife relationship, they shall register for the remarrying of each other with the marriage registration office.
Article 36 The relationship between parents and children shall not come to and end with the parents" divorce. After divorce, whether the children are put in the custody of the father or the mother, they shall remain the children of both parents.
After divorce, both parents shall still have the right and duty to bring up and educate their children.
In principle the mother shall have the custody of a breast-fed infant after divorce. If a dispute arises between the two parties over the custody of their child who has been weaned and they fail to reach an agreement, the people's court shall make a judgment in accordance with the rights and interests of the child and the actual conditions of both parents.
Article 37 If, after divorce, one party has been given custody of a child, the other parent shall bear part or the whole of the child"s necessary living and educational expenses. The two parties shall agreement regarding the amount and duration of such payment. If they fail to reach an agreement, the people's court shall make a judgment.
The agreement or the court judgment on a child's living and educational expenses shall not prevent the child from making a reasonable request, when necessary, to either parent for an amount exceeding what was decided upon in the said agreement or judgment.
Article 38 After divorce, the father or the mother who does not rear their children directly shall have the right to visit them, while the other party shall have the duty to give assistance.
The parents shall reach an agreement about how and when to exercise the right of visit. If they fail to reach an agreement, the people's court shall make a judgement.
If the father or the mother visits their children to the detriment of their mental and physical health, a people's court shall suspend the right of visit according to law; and such a right shall be restored after the main content of the suspension disappears.
Article 39 At the time of divorce, the disposition of the property in the joint possession of husband and wife is subject to agreement between the two parties. In cases where an agreement cannot be reached, the people's court shall make a judgement in consideration of the actual circumstance of the property and on the principle of caring for the rights and interests of the wife and the child or children.
The rights and interests enjoyed by husband or wife in the operation of land under a contract based on the household shall be protected according to law.
Article 40 According to a couple's written agreement, the items of property acquired during their marriage are in the separate possession. In this connection, if one party performs more duties in rearing their children, looking after their elders and assisting the other party in work, he or she shall have the right at the time of divorce to request compensation from the other party who shall make the compensation.
Article 41 At the time of divorce, debts incurred by the husband and wife during their marriage shall be paid off out of their jointly possessed property. If such property is insufficient to pay off the debts or, the items of the property are in the separate possession, the two parties shall work out an agreement with regard to the payment. If they fail to reach an agreement, the people's court shall make a judgment.
Article 42 If, at the time of divorce, one party has difficulties supporting himself or herself, the other party shall render appropriate help from her or his personal property such as a dwelling house. Specific arrangements shall be made between both parties through consultation. If they fail to reach an agreement, the people's court shall make a judgement.
Chapter V Succour Measures and Legal Liability
Article 43 In regard to the domestic violence to or maltreatment of family member(s), the victim shall have the right to make a request, and the neighborhood or villager committee as well as the units in which the parties concerned work shall dissuade the wrongdoer, and offer mediation.
In regard to the domestic violence being committed, the victim shall have the right to make a request, the neighborhood or villager committee shall dissuade the wrongdoer, and the public security organ shall stop the violence.
If, in regard to the domestic violence to or maltreatment of family member(s), the victim makes a request, the public security organ shall subject the wrongdoer to administrative penalty in accordance with the relevant provisions of administrative sanctions for public order.
Article 44 In regard to the desertion of one family member by another, the victim shall have the right to make a request, and the neighborhood or villager committee as well as the units in which the parties concerned work shall dissuade the wrongdoer and offer mediation.
If, in regard to the desertion of one family member by another, the victim makes a request, the people's court shall pass a judgment on the effecting of maintenance, upbringing and support payments according to law.
Article 45 If bigamy, domestic violence to or maltreatment and desertion of family member(s) constitute a crime, the criminal responsibility of the wrongdoer shall be investigated according to law. The victim may institute a voluntary prosecution in a people's court in accordance with the relevant provisions of the criminal procedure law. The public security organ shall investigate the case according to law and the people's procuratorate shall initiate a public prosecution according to law.
Article 46 A no-fault party shall have the right to make a request for damage compensation under any of the following circumstances bringing about divorce:
(1)bigamy;
(2)cohabitation of a married person with any third party;
(3)domestic violence; and
(4)maltreatment and desertion of one family member by another.
Article 47 When the couple's joint property is divided, the party may get smaller or no share of the property if he or she conceals, transfers, sells off, destroys the couple's joint property, or forges debts in an attempt to convert the other party's property at the time of divorce. After divorce, the other party, on finding the above-mentioned acts, may file an action in a people's court, and make a request for another division of the couple's joint property.
Regarding the acts to the prejudice of the civil litigation that are specified in the preceding paragraph, the people's court shall subject the wrongdoer to the punishment according to the provisions of the civil procedure law.
Article 48 In cases where the person refuses to abide by judgements or rulings on maintenance, upbringing or support payments, or on the division or inheritance of property, or on visits to children, the people's court shall enforce the execution of the judgements or rulings according to law. The individuals and units concerned shall have the duty to assist such executions.
Article 49 Where laws provide otherwise against illegal acts and for legal liability in regard to marriage and family, the provisions in such laws shall apply.
Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions
Article 50 The people's congresses in national autonomous areas shall have the right to formulate certain adaptations in the light of the specific conditions of the local nationalities in regard to marriage and family. Provisions of adaptations formulated by autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties must be submitted to the standing committee of the people's congress of the relevant province or autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government for approval. Provisions of adaptations formulated by autonomous regions must be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record.
Article 51 This Law shall come into force as of January 1, 1981.
The Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China promulgated on May 1, 1950 shall be invalidated as of the day this Law comes into force.
