Legal Nature of Alimony Obligation in Russian, German and Austrian Law

INTRODUCTION. The question of the legal nature of alimony obligations has traditionally been a subject of discussion in both Russian and foreign science. The debate concerns both the law branch affiliation of this institution and its place in the system of civil legal relations. This article presents a comparative legal analysis of existing theories of the legal nature of alimony obligations in Russian, German, and Austrian law and attempts to determine the position of the institution in the system of civil legal relations in the legal systems thereof.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. The article provides an analysis of the approaches developed in Russian, German, and Austrian doctrine on the matter. The subject of the analysis is Ph.D and doctoral theses, articles, monographs and case law. The article uses both general scientific (synthesis, analysis, induction, deduction) and specific scientific research methods (formal-legal, comparative-legal).

RESEARCH RESULTS. In accordance with the conducted analysis, there is no scientific consensus reached on the matter of legal nature of alimony obligations in Russian and German law. The concept of the mixed legal nature of alimony obligations is currently the most popular in Russian and German academia. In Austrian law there is a relative scientific consensus.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The relative scientific consensus in Austrian doctrine is reflected in the prevailing understanding of alimony as a civil law obligation. Within the framework of this concept of the legal nature of alimony obligations, Austrian researchers put forward additional hypotheses, such as the existence of synallagma in alimony legal relations. The article also substantiates the conclusion that in Russian and German law, alimony obligation is a strictly targeted relationship established by law, while in Austrian law, this institution is a civil law obligation. In addition, the results of the study suggest that in all the jurisdictions, alimony claims are claims of a creditor against a debtor in a civil legal relationship.

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