婚约的性质和效力

The Nature and Effectiveness of Engagement

婚约作为人类社会中一项法律制度,有着悠久的历史,在我国可追溯到西周。由于立法者对婚约的误读,我国现行婚姻法没有对婚约作出立法规定,而在我们现实生活中婚约仍然大量存在,并呈现出不同于古代婚约的许多新特征。就婚约性质而言,婚约是具有一定效果意思的表示行为,具有伦理性的特点,宜归为亲属法上的契约;就婚约的效力特征来说,基于对自由价值的保护,婚约作为一种亲属法上的契约,其权能受到限制,不得基于婚约提起缔结婚姻的诉讼或者缔结婚姻的判决不予执行,无强制力,因此,是类似自然债务的不完全债权。

Engagement,as law institution in human society,has a long history,and can date back to West Zhou Dynasty in China.Due to misunderstanding by legislators on engagement,China＇s current marriage law does not stipulate on engagement.But in real life,engagement is widespread,and shows many new characteristics different from ancient engagements.As to its nature,engagement is the behavior of expressing the desire with certain effect.It has the ethics characteristics,and should be classified into a contract in family law.As to its characteristics of effect,on the basis of protecting freedom value,the power of engagement,as a contract in family law,is restricted.Lawsuit for conclusion of marriage should not base on engagement,and the court decision on marriage has no compelling force and could not be enforced.Therefore engagement is similar to the incomplete creditor＇s rights in natural obligation.