南非涉外夫妻财产关系的法律适用——兼论《涉外民事关系法律适用法》第24条

Choice of Law Governing Foreign-related Matrimonial Property Relationships in South Africa:Also a Commentary on Article 24 of Chinese Law on Choice of Law for Foreign-related Civil Relationships

在涉外夫妻财产关系的法律适用方面,南非国际私法重视维护法律关系的稳定性和执行司法任务的便利性。首先,夫妻财产关系原则上适用丈夫结婚之时的住所地法;其次,夫妻可于婚前或婚后选择支配其财产关系的准据法,但未经书面形式做成的法律选择不得对抗第三人;最后,在解决准据法的时际冲突方面,南非法院一般以准据法所属国的时际私法作准,决定适用新法或旧法。在夫妻互为赠与方面,南非法院将之识别为合同,适用最密切联系地法;理论界则认为这属于物权关系,应当适用物之所在地法或者赠与发生之时夫妻的共同住所地法。在连结点选择和冲突规则设计方面,我国《涉外民事关系法律适用法》第24条表现出比南非冲突法更大的灵活性,但对动态连结点的可变性和准据法的不确定性有所放任,未能兼顾善意第三人的权利保护。

As far as the choice of law governing foreign-related matrimonial property is concerned, the private international law of South Africa attaches great importance to the stability of civil relationship and judicial convenience. The conflict rule that designates the law governing the matrimonial property is not an exception. In accordance with South African law on conflicts of laws, matrimonial property shall be governed by the law of the husband＇ s domicile at the time when the couple marries. Nevertheless, the couple may choose the law to govern their property but that choice shall not work against a third party unless it is made in written form. Where the governing law （including provisional rules） changes, it is generally the new law that is applied. In addition, South African law absolutely forbids grant between husband and wife. South African judges sometimes take such grant as contract and apply the law which has the most significant relationship with it whereas law professors believe it to be property and subject to lex loci rei sitae or the law where the couple is domiciled when it happens.