The Conditions for the Validity of Marriage in Romanian Civil Law. Legal Requirements, Doctrinal Interpretations, and Practical Implications
Keywords:
Civil marriage, Conditions of validity, Consent, Matrimonial capacity, Nulitas matrimoniiAbstract
The paper analyzes the conditions for the validity of marriage in Romanian civil law through a doctrinal and normative approach, with an emphasis on the clear distinction between substantive and formal requirements, as well as the legal implications arising from their non-compliance. In the Romanian legal system, marriage is regulated as a solemn, bilateral, and personal act subject to public order requirements, and its validity requires the cumulative fulfillment of conditions expressly provided by law. The study examines matrimonial capacity, the free and unvitiated consent of the future spouses, the absence of legal impediments, and compliance with the form required ad validitatem.
Attention is given to defects of consent that are admissible in matters of marriage and to doctrinal interpretations regarding the distinction between such defects and other causes of ineffectiveness. The relationship between the expression of matrimonial intent and the conclusion of a matrimonial agreement is also analyzed, with emphasis on situations in which the latter may influence the validity of the marriage. The paper examines the implications of the recent Law No. 140/2022 on the capacity of protected persons to validly consent to marriage, highlighting the impact of the reform on the applicable legal regime.
The analysis is based exclusively on established legal literature published after the entry into force of the 2009 Civil Code and aims for a technical and systematic treatment of the topic. The effects of absolute or relative nullity in cases of non-compliance with validity conditions are highlighted, and a coherent interpretation of the relevant legal provisions is proposed, in correlation with the social and legal purpose of the institution of marriage.
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