Prof. Dr. W. Pintens

International Encyclopaedia of Laws - Family and Succession Law

Editor: prof. Walter Pintens

General editor: prof. Roger Blanpain

Family and succession law are tightly bound together. Succession law is usually based on kindred relationships as established by family law. The trends established in the marital property laws and succession laws are often a result of developments in family law. Equality of spouses and of all children, regardless of their descent, are not without consequences for marital property laws and succession laws.

Therefore, this Encyclopedia covers family law together with marital property law and succession law. The national monographs are written according to a standard outline. However, due to great differences which exist in the family laws of many legal systems, we acknowledge that many authors will not be able to follow this standard outline. This will be the case, for instance, for the common law countries, which do not have a separate system for marital property, and for legal systems which are still strongly influenced by custom and religion.

Besides the national monographs, this Encyclopedia will also include international monographs describing the activities of several international organizations in the domain of familiy and succession law, such as the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Union and the International Commission on Civil Status.

Although this Encyclopedia has primarily academic aspirations, practical information is given as much as possible, and only essential references are included as footnotes.

This Encyclopedia is primarily aimed at legal personnel such as judges, notaries, lawyers and registrars of civil status, who find themselves having to apply foreign laws as a result of applicable law rules of international private law. Yet this Encyclopedia will adress acadamicians and researchers and stimulate comparative studies by providing the necessary, basic material of family and succession law.

This Encyclopedia at present consists of the following monographs:

• Council of Europe (by prof. B. Verschraegen)
• European Union (by prof. W. Pintens and mr. J. Du Mongh)
• International Commission on Civil Status (by mr. J. Massip, mr. F. Hondius and ms. C. Nast)
• Australia (by prof. J. Neville Turner)
• Botswana (by E.K. Quansah)
• Canada (by prof. G. Alexandrowicz, prof. M. Bailey, prof. C. Bala, prof. M. McCallum and prof. J. Beaulne)
• Czech Republic (by prof. M. Hrušáková)
• Denmark (by prof. S. Storm and prof. H. Viggo Godsk Petersen)
• Finland (by mr. M. Savolainen)
• Germany (by prof. D. Schwab, prof. P. Gottwald and Ms. E. Büttner)
• Japan (by prof. S. Minamikata, prof. S. Maruyama, prof. H. Tanaka)
• Mexico (by prof. J.A. Márques González)
• The Netherlands (by prof. G. van der Burght)
• New Zealand (by prof. W.R. Atkin and ms. R. Gordon)
• Singapore (by prof. L. Wai Kum and prof. D. Ong Siew Ling)
• Slovenia (by prof. M. Gec-Korošec and dr. V. Rijavec)
• Spain (by prof. G. García Cantero and prof. J. Rams Albesa)
• Sweden (by prof. M.K. Eriksson and prof. J. Schiratzki)
• United States of America (by prof. L. D. Wardle and prof. L. C. Nolan)
• Zambia (by prof. C. Himonga)

Website International Encyclopedia of Laws: http://www.ielaws.com/family.htm

Erfenissen, schenkingen en testamenten. Commentaar met overzicht van rechtspraak en rechtsleer

Losbladige artikelsgewijze commentaar onder leiding van prof. M. Coene (U.I.A.), prof. W. Pintens (K.U.Leuven) en prof. A. Vastersavendts (V.U.B.), verschenen vanaf 1988 bij Kluwer te Antwerpen.

Regensburger Symposium zum europäischen Familienrecht

Dit tweejaarlijks symposium is een bijeenkomst van Europese experten inzake de de harmonisatie van het Europese familierecht. Deze bijeenkomsten vinden hun schriftelijke neerslag in de reeks Beiträge zum europäischen Familienrecht. 

Is reeds verschenen:

Band 1: D. SCHWAB en D. HENRICH (eds.), Entwicklungen des europäischen Kindschaftsrechts, 2. Aufl., Bielefeld, Gieseking, 1996, 300 p.

Band 2: D. SCHWAB en D. HENRICH (eds.), Der Schutz der Familienwohnung in Europäischen Rechtsordnungen, Bielefeld, Gieseking, 1995, 209 p.

Band 5: D. SCHWAB en D. HENRICH (eds.), Familiäre Solidarität- Die Begründung und die Grenzen der Unterhaltspflicht unter Verwandten im europäischen Vergleich, Bielefeld, Gieseking, 1997, 336 p.

Band 6: D. SCHWAB en D. HENRICH (eds.),Eheliche Gemeinschaft, Partnerschaft und Vermögen im europäischen Vergleich, Bielefeld, Gieseking, 1999, 378 p.

Band 7: D. SCHWAB en D. HENRICH (eds.), Familienerbrecht und Testierfreiheit im europäischen Vergleich, Bielefeld, Gieseking, 2001, 389 p.

Band 8: S. HOFER, D.SCHWAB en D. HENRICH (eds.), Scheidung und nachehelicher Unterhalt im europäischen Vergleich, Bielefeld, Gieseking, 2003, 432 p.

Band 9:  S. HOFER, D.SCHWAB en D. HENRICH (eds.), From Status to Contract? - Die Bedeutung des Vertrages im europäischen Familienrecht, Bielefeld, Gieseking, 2005, 333 p.

Band 11: A. SPICKHOFF, D.SCHWAB, D. HENRICH en P. GOTTWALD, Streit um die Abstammung - ein europäischer Vergleich -, Bielefeld, Gieseking, 2007, 412 p.

Commission on European Family Law

On the 1st September 2001 the Commission on European Family Law (CEFL) was established. The CEFL consists of 25 distinguished experts in the field of family and comparative law from all European Union Member States and other European countries. The members of the Organising Committee are:

• Professor Cristina Gonzalez Beilfuss, University of Barcelona
• Professor Katharina Boele-Woelki, University of Utrecht
• Professor Frédérique Ferrand, University of Lyon
• Professor Maarit Jäntarä-Jareborg, University of Upsala
• Professor Nigel Lowe, University of Cardiff
• Professor Dieter Martiny, University of Frankfurt/Oder
• Professor Walter Pintens, University of Leuven

The main objective of the CEFL is to launch a pioneering theoretical and practical exercise in relation to the harmonization of family law in Europe. This will be achieved through:

• Surveying the current state of comparative research on the harmonization of family law in the European countries. Experiences will be exchanged and further research activities in this field will be coordinated.

• Searching for the common core for the solution of several legal problems on the basis of comparing the different solutions provided by the family laws of the various European jurisdictions.

• Surveying the role of (potential) future European EU member states in the process of the harmonization of family law.

The major benefit to be expected by the establishment of this Commission is the creation of a set of Principles of European Family Law that are thought to be most suitable for the harmonization of family law within Europe.

The general task of the Organising Committee will be to set up the Expert Group and to prepare and co-ordinate the work of that Expert Group and of the Commission as a whole. The CEFL will start activity in the field of divorce law (grounds for divorce) and some consequences of divorce, such as maintenance between ex-spouses. Parental authority has been selected as the second issue. The working method and the initial results of the activities of the CEFL will be presented at the International Conference entitled "Perspectives for Harmonisation and Unification of Family Law in Europe" which is due to take place from 11th - 14th December 2002 in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Zie ook de website van de CEFL: http://www2.law.uu.nl/priv/cefl

Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Project

Legitieme en proportionele vermogensbescherming voor kwetsbare meerderjarigen: een rechtsvergelijkend onderzoek naar bewind en 'enduring powers of attorney'

Verordening Brussel IIa

Bespreking van de artikelen 1 en 2 Brussel IIa Verordening in Engelse commentaar, te verschijnen bij Sellier, Berlijn.