A jurisprudential analysis of settlement in the civil marriage law and on the necessity to review the legitimacy assumptions

Abstract

Settlement presents some interpretation problems as a new institution in the Chilean marriage law. The doctrine is not unanimous upon determining its juridical nature and the judges, upon establishing its legitimacy, can be classified into those who demand the compliance with the objective and subjective assumptions in Art. 61 LMC and those who disregard subjective elements. In quantifying, there is no link with the legitimacy assumptions, and they are established with a welfare-like perspective very close to alimony. This institution calls for a review, and the following assumption must be incorporated into it: in a global economic view, the spouse who gives support equally looks after the children and the common home and is the weaker of the two spouses when divorce comes through.