国际私法上儿童惯常居所的确定

Determination of Child's Habitual Residence in Private International Law

儿童惯常居所已成为晚近以来国际私法立法中一项重要联结点,但在儿童惯常居所的解释上仍存在不确定性问题。儿童惯常居所一般从事实性要素和心理性要素两方面予以认定。在事实性要素方面,应以儿童的实际居住和居住期限为基础,确定儿童与特定地域社会和环境的融入度和适应性。在心理性要素方面,应依据儿童的认知能力,充分听取儿童的意见表达并尊重儿童的意愿。基于儿童最佳利益保护的需要,儿童惯常居所并非是纯粹的事实问题而应作为法律概念予以解释。儿童惯常居所不应依附于监护人之惯常居所而应进行独立评价。我国法院在儿童经常居所地的认定上,应在遵循儿童最佳利益原则的基础上寻找儿童的利益中心地。

Child＇s habitual residence has become an important connecting factor in recent private international law legislations, but uncertainty exists in the definition of child＇s habitual residence. Child＇s habitual residence generally engages in substantive and psychological elements. In the aspect of factual elements, child＇s integration and adaptability to the society and environment of a particular jurisdiction should be determined on the basis of child＇s physical presence and duration of residence. In terms of psychological factors, children＇s opinions and will should be fully expressed and respected according to children＇s cognitive abilities. Child＇s habitual residence is not a pure fact, but a legal concept which should be interpreted due to needs of the best interests of child. Child＇s habitual residence should not be attached to the habitual residence of guardians of child but be evaluated independently. Chinese courts should seek the center of children＇s interest on the basis of principle of the best interests of child in determination of child habitual residence.