The National Council has just approved a bill modernising Monaco’s marriage law, with the aim of reducing the length and complexity of contentious separations.
The National Council recently adopted a major reform of divorce law designed to simplify procedures when spouses are unable to come to an agreement. TVMonaco has taken a closer look at the proposed law, which marks a significant shift in a field long characterised by protracted legal battles to determine responsibility for the breakdown of a marriage.
The main innovation lies in the possibility for couples to contractually decide, even before any potential separation, what the financial consequences of a future divorce would be. “The approach places freedom of choice at the heart of marital relations,” explained Christine Pasquier-Ciulla, who supports the reform enabling spouses to plan the financial aspects of their union in advance.
The objective is “to put the protection of families and children back at the heart of the process,” Thomas Brezzo said during the National Council’s public session on 26 November, acknowledging that prolonged parental conflict has lasting psychological consequences for children.
“We are choosing a more modern, clearer and fairer divorce law for the benefit of families in the Principality,” the President of the National Council said when the bill was adopted. The reform represents a significant step forward in a state where Catholicism remains the official religion, making the subject of divorce particularly sensitive.
Six months to implement the reform
The Prince’s Government now has six months to turn the proposed legislation into a workable bill. This stage will make it possible to clarify how the new provisions will be applied in practice and adapt the entire regulatory framework.