（１９８０年９月１０日第五届全国人民代表大会第三次会议通过根据２００１年４月２８日第九届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十一次会议《关于修改〈中华人民共和国婚姻法〉的决定》修正） (来源：英语麦当劳 http://www.EnglishCN.com)

　　目录

　　第一章　总　　则

　　第二章　结　　婚

　　第三章　家庭关系

　　第四章　离　　婚

　　第五章　救助措施与法律责任

　　第六章　附　　则

　　第一章　总　　则

　　第一条　本法是婚姻家庭关系的基本准则。

　　第二条　实行婚姻自由、一夫一妻、男女平等的婚姻制度。

　　保护妇女、儿童和老人的合法权益。

　　实行计划生育。

　　第三条　禁止包办、买卖婚姻和其他干涉婚姻自由的行为。禁止借婚姻索取财物。

　　禁止重婚。禁止有配偶者与他人同居。禁止家庭暴力。禁止家庭成员间的虐待和遗弃。

　　第四条　夫妻应当互相忠实，互相尊重；家庭成员间应当敬老爱幼，互相帮助，维护平等、和睦、文明的婚姻家庭关系。

　　第二章　结　　婚

　　第五条　结婚必须男女双方完全自愿，不许任何一方对他方加以强迫或任何第三者加以干涉。

　　第六条　结婚年龄，男不得早于二十二周岁，女不得早于二十周岁。晚婚晚育应予鼓励。

　　第七条　有下列情形之一的，禁止结婚：

　　（一）直系血亲和三代以内的旁系血亲；

　　（二）患有医学上认为不应当结婚的疾病。

　　第八条　要求结婚的男女双方必须亲自到婚姻登记机关进行结婚登记。符合本法规定的，予以登记，发给结婚证。取得结婚证，即确立夫妻关系。未办理结婚登记的，应当补办登记。

　　第九条　登记结婚后，根据男女双方约定，女方可以成为男方家庭的成员，男方可以成为女方家庭的成员。

　　第十条　有下列情形之一的，婚姻无效：

　　（一）重婚的；

　　（二）有禁止结婚的亲属关系的；

　　（三）婚前患有医学上认为不应当结婚的疾病，婚后尚未治愈的；

　　（四）未到法定婚龄的。

　　第十一条　因胁迫结婚的，受胁迫的一方可以向婚姻登记机关或人民法院请求撤销该婚姻。受胁迫的一方撤销婚姻的请求，应当自结婚登记之日起一年内提出。被非法限制人身自由的当事人请求撤销婚姻的，应当自恢复人身自由之日起一年内提出。

　　第十二条　无效或被撤销的婚姻，自始无效。当事人不具有夫妻的权利和义务。同居期间所得的财产，由当事人协议处理；协议不成时，由人民法院根据照顾无过错方的原则判决。对重婚导致的婚姻无效的财产处理，不得侵害合法婚姻当事人的财产权益。当事人所生的子女，适用本法有关父母子女的规定。

　　第三章　家庭关系

　　第十三条　夫妻在家庭中地位平等。

　　第十四条　夫妻双方都有各用自己姓名的权利。

　　第十五条　夫妻双方都有参加生产、工作、学习和社会活动的自由，一方不得对他方加以限制或干涉。

　　第十六条　夫妻双方都有实行计划生育的义务。

　　第十七条　夫妻在婚姻关系存续期间所得的下列财产，归夫妻共同所有：

　　（一）工资、奖金；

　　（二）生产、经营的收益；

　　（三）知识产权的收益；

　　（四）继承或赠与所得的财产，但本法第十八条第三项规定的除外；

　　（五）其他应当归共同所有的财产。

　　夫妻对共同所有的财产，有平等的处理权。

　　第十八条　有下列情形之一的，为夫妻一方的财产：

　　（一）一方的婚前财产；

　　（二）一方因身体受到伤害获得的医疗费、残疾人生活补助费等费用；

　　（三）遗嘱或赠与合同中确定只归夫或妻一方的财产；

　　（四）一方专用的生活用品；

　　（五）其他应当归一方的财产。

　　第十九条　夫妻可以约定婚姻关系存续期间所得的财产以及婚前财产归各自所有、共同所有或部分各自所有、部分共同所有。约定应当采用书面形式。没有约定或约定不明确的，适用本法第十七条、第十八条的规定。

　　夫妻对婚姻关系存续期间所得的财产以及婚前财产的约定，对双方具有约束力。

　　夫妻对婚姻关系存续期间所得的财产约定归各自所有的，夫或妻一方对外所负的债务，第三人知道该约定的，以夫或妻一方所有的财产清偿。

　　第二十条　夫妻有互相扶养的义务。

　　一方不履行扶养义务时，需要扶养的一方，有要求对方付给扶养费的权利。

　　第二十一条　父母对子女有抚养教育的义务；子女对父母有赡养扶助的义务。

　　父母不履行抚养义务时，未成年的或不能独立生活的子女，有要求父母付给抚养费的权利。

　　子女不履行赡养义务时，无劳动能力的或生活困难的父母，有要求子女付给赡养费的权利。

　　禁止溺婴、弃婴和其他残害婴儿的行为。

　　第二十二条　子女可以随父姓，可以随母姓。

　　第二十三条　父母有保护和教育未成年子女的权利和义务。在未成年子女对国家、集体或他人造成损害时，父母有承担民事责任的义务。

　　第二十四条　夫妻有相互继承遗产的权利。

　　父母和子女有相互继承遗产的权利。

　　第二十五条　非婚生子女享有与婚生子女同等的权利，任何人不得加以危害和歧视。

　　不直接抚养非婚生子女的生父或生母，应当负担子女的生活费和教育费，直至子女能独立生活为止。

　　第二十六条　国家保护合法的收养关系。养父母和养子女间的权利和义务，适用本法对父母子女关系的有关规定。

　　养子女和生父母间的权利和义务，因收养关系的成立而消除。

　　第二十七条　继父母与继子女间，不得虐待或歧视。

　　继父或继母和受其抚养教育的继子女间的权利和义务，适用本法对父母子女关系的有关规定。

　　第二十八条　有负担能力的祖父母、外祖父母，对于父母已经死亡或父母无力抚养的未成年的孙子女、外孙子女，有抚养的义务。有负担能力的孙子女、外孙子女，对于子女已经死亡或子女无力赡养的祖父母、外祖父母，有赡养的义务。

　　第二十九条　有负担能力的兄、姐，对于父母已经死亡或父母无力抚养的未成年的弟、妹，有扶养的义务。由兄、姐扶养长大的有负担能力的弟、妹，对于缺乏劳动能力又缺乏生活来源的兄、姐，有扶养的义务。

　　第三十条　子女应当尊重父母的婚姻权利，不得干涉父母再婚以及婚后的生活。子女对父母的赡养义务，不因父母的婚姻关系变化而终止。

　　第四章　离　　婚

　　第三十一条　男女双方自愿离婚的，准予离婚。双方必须到婚姻登记机关申请离婚。婚姻登记机关查明双方确实是自愿并对子女和财产问题已有适当处理时，发给离婚证。

　　第三十二条　男女一方要求离婚的，可由有关部门进行调解或直接向人民法院提出离婚诉讼。

　　人民法院审理离婚案件，应当进行调解；如感情确已破裂，调解无效，应准予离婚。

　　有下列情形之一，调解无效的，应准予离婚：

　　（一）重婚或有配偶者与他人同居的；

　　（二）实施家庭暴力或虐待、遗弃家庭成员的；

　　（三）有赌博、吸毒等恶习屡教不改的；

　　（四）因感情不和分居满二年的；

　　（五）其他导致夫妻感情破裂的情形。

　　一方被宣告失踪，另一方提出离婚诉讼的，应准予离婚。

　　第三十三条　现役军人的配偶要求离婚，须得军人同意，但军人一方有重大过错的除外。

　　第三十四条　女方在怀孕期间、分娩后一年内或中止妊娠后六个月内，男方不得提出离婚。女方提出离婚的，或人民法院认为确有必要受理男方离婚请求的，不在此限。

　　第三十五条　离婚后，男女双方自愿恢复夫妻关系的，必须到婚姻登记机关进行复婚登记。

　　第三十六条　父母与子女间的关系，不因父母离婚而消除。离婚后，子女无论由父或母直接抚养，仍是父母双方的子女。

　　离婚后，父母对于子女仍有抚养和教育的权利和义务。

　　离婚后，哺乳期内的子女，以随哺乳的母亲抚养为原则。哺乳期后的子女，如双方因抚养问题发生争执不能达成协议时，由人民法院根据子女的权益和双方的具体情况判决。

　　第三十七条　离婚后，一方抚养的子女，另一方应负担必要的生活费和教育费的一部或全部，负担费用的多少和期限的长短，由双方协议；协议不成时，由人民法院判决。

　　关于子女生活费和教育费的协议或判决，不妨碍子女在必要时向父母任何一方提出超过协议或判决原定数额的合理要求。

　　第三十八条　离婚后，不直接抚养子女的父或母，有探望子女的权利，另一方有协助的义务。

　　行使探望权利的方式、时间由当事人协议；协议不成时，由人民法院判决。

　　父或母探望子女，不利于子女身心健康的，由人民法院依法中止探望的权利；中止的事由消失后，应当恢复探望的权利。

　　第三十九条　离婚时，夫妻的共同财产由双方协议处理；协议不成时，由人民法院根据财产的具体情况，照顾子女和女方权益的原则判决。

　　夫或妻在家庭土地承包经营中享有的权益等，应当依法予以保护。

　　第四十条　夫妻书面约定婚姻关系存续期间所得的财产归各自所有，一方因抚育子女、照料老人、协助另一方工作等付出较多义务的，离婚时有权向另一方请求补偿，另一方应当予以补偿。

　　第四十一条　离婚时，原为夫妻共同生活所负的债务，应当共同偿还。共同财产不足清偿的，或财产归各自所有的，由双方协议清偿；协议不成时，由人民法院判决。

　　第四十二条　离婚时，如一方生活困难，另一方应从其住房等个人财产中给予适当帮助。具体办法由双方协议；协议不成时，由人民法院判决。

　　第五章　救助措施与法律责任

　　第四十三条　实施家庭暴力或虐待家庭成员，受害人有权提出请求，居民委员会、村民委员会以及所在单位应当予以劝阻、调解。

　　对正在实施的家庭暴力，受害人有权提出请求，居民委员会、村民委员会应当予以劝阻；公安机关应当予以制止。

　　实施家庭暴力或虐待家庭成员，受害人提出请求的，公安机关应当依照治安管理处罚的法律规定予以行政处罚。

　　第四十四条　对遗弃家庭成员，受害人有权提出请求，居民委员会、村民委员会以及所在单位应当予以劝阻、调解。

　　对遗弃家庭成员，受害人提出请求的，人民法院应当依法作出支付扶养费、抚养费、赡养费的判决。

　　第四十五条　对重婚的，对实施家庭暴力或虐待、遗弃家庭成员构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。受害人可以依照刑事诉讼法的有关规定，向人民法院自诉；公安机关应当依法侦查，人民检察院应当依法提起公诉。

　　第四十六条　有下列情形之一，导致离婚的，无过错方有权请求损害赔偿：

　　（一）重婚的；

　　（二）有配偶者与他人同居的；

　　（三）实施家庭暴力的；

　　（四）虐待、遗弃家庭成员的。

　　第四十七条　离婚时，一方隐藏、转移、变卖、毁损夫妻共同财产，或伪造债务企图侵占另一方财产的，分割夫妻共同财产时，对隐藏、转移、变卖、毁损夫妻共同财产或伪造债务的一方，可以少分或不分。离婚后，另一方发现有上述行为的，可以向人民法院提起诉讼，请求再次分割夫妻共同财产。

　　人民法院对前款规定的妨害民事诉讼的行为，依照民事诉讼法的规定予以制裁。

　　第四十八条　对拒不执行有关扶养费、抚养费、赡养费、财产分割、遗产继承、探望子女等判决或裁定的，由人民法院依法强制执行。有关个人和单位应负协助执行的责任。

　　第四十九条　其他法律对有关婚姻家庭的违法行为和法律责任另有规定的，依照其规定。

　　第六章　附　　则

　　第五十条　民族自治地方的人民代表大会有权结合当地民族婚姻家庭的具体情况，制定变通规定。自治州、自治县制定的变通规定，报省、自治区、直辖市人民代表大会常务委员会批准后生效。自治区制定的变通规定，报全国人民代表大会常务委员会批准后生效。

　　第五十一条　本法自１９８１年１月１日起施行。

　　１９５０年５月１日颁行的《中华人民共和国婚姻法》，自本法施行之日起废止。

Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China

　　（Adopted at the Third Session of the Fifth National People's Congress on September 10,1980, and amended in accordance with Decision Regarding the Amendment (of Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China) passed at 21st Session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress on April 28,2001）

　　Chapter I    General Provisions

　　Article 1 This Law is the Fundamental code governing marriage and family relations.

　　Article 2 A marriage system based on the free choice of partners, on monogamy and on equality between man and woman shall be applied.

　　The lawful rights and interests of women, children and old people shall be protected.

　　Family planning shall be practised.

　　Article 3 Marriage upon arbitrary decision by any third party, mercenary marriage and any other acts of interference in the freedom of marriage shall be prohibited. The exaction of money or gifts in connection with marriage shall be prohibited.

　　Bigamy shall be prohibited. Cohabitation of a married person with any third party shall be prohibited. Domestic violence shall be prohibited. Within the family maltreatment and desertion of one family member by another shall be prohibited.

　　Article 4 Husband and wife shall be faithful to and respect each other. Within the family family members shall respect the old and cherish the young, help one another, and maintain equal, harmonious and civilized marriage and family relations.

　　Chapter II    Marriage Contract

　　Article 5 Marriage must by based upon the complete willingness of both man and woman. Neither party may use compulsion on the other party and no third party may interfere.

　　Article 6 No marriage may be contracted before the man has reached 22 years of age and the woman 20 years of age. Late marriage and late childbirth shall be encouraged.

　　Article 7 No marriage may be contracted under any of the following circumstances:

　　(1)if the man and the woman are lineal relatives by blood, or collateral relatives by blood up to the third degree of kinship; and

　　(2)if the man or the woman is suffering from any disease, which is regarded by medical science as rendering a person unfit for marriage.

　　Article 8 Both the man and the woman desiring to contract a marriage shall register in person with the marriage registration office. If the proposed marriage is found to conform with the provisions of this Law, the couple shall be allowed to register and issued marriage certificates. The husband and wife relationship shall be established as soon as they acquire the marriage certificates. In the absence of the marriage registration, the man and the woman shall go through the procedures subsequently.

　　Article 9 After a marriage has been registered, the woman may become a member of the man"s family or vice versa, depending on the agreed wishes of the two parties.

　　Article 10 Marriage shall be invalid under any of the following circumstances:

　　(1)if one party commits bigamy;

　　(2)if the man and the woman are relatives by blood up to the third degree of kinship;

　　(3)if, before marriage, one party is suffering from a disease which is regarded by medical science as rendering a person unfit for marriage and, after marriage, a cure is not effected; and

　　(4)if the legally marriageable age is not attained.

　　Article 11 In the case of a marriage made under coercion, the coerced party may make a request to the marriage registration office or the people's court for the dissolution of the marriage contract. Such a request shall be made within one year as of the marriage registration date. The party concerned whose personal freedom is curbed illegitimately shall make a request for dissolution of the marriage contract within one year as of the date on which his or her personal freedom is restored.

　　Article 12 Void or dissolved marriage shall be invalid from its inception. Neither party concerned shall have the rights and duties of husband or wife. The property acquired during their cohabitation shall be subject to disposition by mutual agreement. If they fail to reach an agreement, the people's court shall give a ruling on the principle of caring for the no-fault party. The disposition of the property of void marriage caused by bigamy may not be to the detriment of the property rights and interests of the party concerned to the lawful marriage. The provisions of this Law regarding parents and children shall apply to the children born from the parties concerned.

　　Chapter III    Family Relations

　　Article 13 Husband and wife shall have equal status in the family.

　　Article 14 Both husband and wife shall have the right to use his or her own surname and given name.

　　Article 15 Both husband and wife shall have the freedom to engage in production and other work, to study and to participate in social activities; neither party may restrict or interfere with the other party.

　　Article 16 Both husband and wife shall have the duty to practise family planning.

　　Article 17 The following items of property acquired by husband and wife during the period in which they are under contract of marriage shall be jointly possessed:

　　(1)pay and bonus;

　　(2)earnings from production and operation;

　　(3)earnings from intellectual property rights;

　　(4)property obtained from inheritance of gift except as provided for in Article 18(3) of this Law; and

　　(5)Any other items of property which shall be in his or her separate possession.

　　Article 19 So far as the property acquired during the period in which they are under contract of marriage and the prenuptial property are concerned, husband and wife may agree as to whether they should be in the separate possession, joint possession or partly separate possession and partly joint possession. The agreement shall be made in writing. The provisions of Articles 17 and 18 of this Law shall apply to the absence of such an agreement or to a vague one.

　　The agreement reached between the husband and wife on the property acquired during the period in which they are under contract of marriage and on the prenuptial property is binding on both parties.

　　If husband and wife agree, as is known to the third party, to separately possess their property acquired during their marriage life, the debt owed by the husband or the wife to any other person, shall be paid off out of the property separately possessed by him or her.

　　Article 20 Husband and wife shall have the duty to maintain each other.

　　If one party fails to perform this duty, the party in need of maintenance shall have the right to demand maintenance payments from the other party.

　　Article 21 Parents shall have the duty to bring up and educate their children; children shall have the duty to support and assist their parents.

　　If parents fail to perform their duty, children who are minors or who are incapable of living on their own shall have the right to demand the cost of upbringing from their parents.

　　If children fail to perform their duty, parents who are unable to work or have difficulties in providing for themselves shall have the right to demand support payments from their children.

　　Infant drowning, deserting and any other acts causing serious harm to infants and infanticide shall be prohibited.

　　Article 22 Children may adopt their father's or their mother's surname.

　　Article 23 Parents shall have the right and duty to subject their children who are minors to discipline and to protect them. If children who are minors cause damage to the state, the collective, or individuals, their parents shall have the duty to bear civil liability.

　　Article 24 Husband and wife shall have the right to inherit each other's property.

　　Parents and children shall have right to inherit each other's property.

　　Article 25 Children born out of wedlock shall enjoy the same rights as children born in wedlock. No one may harm or discriminate against them.

　　The natural father or the natural mother who does not rear directly his or her child born out of wedlock shall bear the child's living and educational expenses until the child can support himself or herself.

　　Article 26 The state shall protect lawful adoption. The relevant provisions of this Law governing the relationship between parents and children shall apply to the rights and duties in the relationship between foster parents and foster children.

　　The right and duties in the relationship between a foster child and his or her natural parents shall terminate with the establishment of this adoption.

　　Article 27 Maltreatment or discrimination shall not be permitted between stepparents and stepchildren.

　　The relevant provisions in this Law governing the relationship between parents and children shall apply to the rights and duties in the relationship between stepfathers or stepmothers and their stepchildren who receive care and education from them.

　　Article 28 Grandparents or maternal grandparents who can afford it shall have the duty to bring up their grandchildren or maternal grandchildren who are minors and whose parents are dead or have no capacity of bringing them up. Grandchildren or maternal grandchildren who can afford it shall have the duty to support their grandparents or maternal grandparents whose children are dead or cannot afford it.

　　Article 29 Elder brothers or elder sisters who can afford it shall have the duty to bring up their younger brothers or sisters who are minors if their parents are dead or have no means to bring them up. Younger brothers or sisters who have been brought up by their elder brothers or elder sisters and have the means of maintenance shall have the duty to support them who are lacking in the capacity to work and in the source of income.

　　Article 30 Children shall have respect for their parents" matrimonial rights and shall not interfere in their parents" remarriage and postnuptial life. Children's duty to maintain their parents shall not terminate with the change in their parents" matrimonial relationship.

　　Chapter IV    Divorce

　　Article 31 Divorce shall be granted if husband and wife both desire it. Both parties shall apply to the marriage registration office for divorce. The marriage registration office, after clearly establishing that divorce is desired by both parties and that appropriate arrangements have been made for the care of any children and the disposition of property, shall issue the divorce certificates.

　　Article 32 When one party alone desires a divorce, the organizations concerned may carry out mediation, or the party may appeal directly to a people's court to start divorce proceedings.

　　In dealing with a divorce case, the people's court should carry out mediation between the parties. Divorce shall be granted if mediation fails because mutual affection no long exists.

　　Divorce shall be granted if mediation fails under any of the following circumstances:

　　(1)bigamy or, cohabitation of a married person with any third party;

　　(2)domestic violence or, maltreatment and desertion of one family member by another;

　　(3)bad habits of gamble or drug addiction which remain incorrigible despite repeated admonition;

　　(4)separation caused by incompatibility, which lasts two full years; and

　　(5)any other circumstances causing alienation of mutual affection.

　　Divorce shall be granted if one party is declared to be missing and the other party thereby files an action for divorce.

　　Article 33 If the spouse of a soldier in active military service desires a divorce, the soldier's consent must b e obtained, except that the soldier commits a serious fault.

　　Article 34 A husband may not apply for a divorce when his wife is pregnant or within one year after the birth of a child or within six months after pregnancy suspension. This restriction shall not apply in cases where the wife applies for a divorce, or when the people's court deems it necessary to accept the divorce application made by the husband.

　　Article 35 If, after divorce, both parties desire to resume their husband-and-wife relationship, they shall register for the remarrying of each other with the marriage registration office.

　　Article 36 The relationship between parents and children shall not come to and end with the parents" divorce. After divorce, whether the children are put in the custody of the father or the mother, they shall remain the children of both parents.

　　After divorce, both parents shall still have the right and duty to bring up and educate their children.

　　In principle the mother shall have the custody of a breast-fed infant after divorce. If a dispute arises between the two parties over the custody of their child who has been weaned and they fail to reach an agreement, the people's court shall make a judgment in accordance with the rights and interests of the child and the actual conditions of both parents.

　　Article 37 If, after divorce, one party has been given custody of a child, the other parent shall bear part or the whole of the child"s necessary living and educational expenses. The two parties shall agreement regarding the amount and duration of such payment. If they fail to reach an agreement, the people's court shall make a judgment.

　　The agreement or the court judgment on a child's living and educational expenses shall not prevent the child from making a reasonable request, when necessary, to either parent for an amount exceeding what was decided upon in the said agreement or judgment.

　　Article 38 After divorce, the father or the mother who does not rear their children directly shall have the right to visit them, while the other party shall have the duty to give assistance.

　　The parents shall reach an agreement about how and when to exercise the right of visit. If they fail to reach an agreement, the people's court shall make a judgement.

　　If the father or the mother visits their children to the detriment of their mental and physical health, a people's court shall suspend the right of visit according to law; and such a right shall be restored after the main content of the suspension disappears.

　　Article 39 At the time of divorce, the disposition of the property in the joint possession of husband and wife is subject to agreement between the two parties. In cases where an agreement cannot be reached, the people's court shall make a judgement in consideration of the actual circumstance of the property and on the principle of caring for the rights and interests of the wife and the child or children.

　　The rights and interests enjoyed by husband or wife in the operation of land under a contract based on the household shall be protected according to law.

　　Article 40 According to a couple's written agreement, the items of property acquired during their marriage are in the separate possession. In this connection, if one party performs more duties in rearing their children, looking after their elders and assisting the other party in work, he or she shall have the right at the time of divorce to request compensation from the other party who shall make the compensation.

　　Article 41 At the time of divorce, debts incurred by the husband and wife during their marriage shall be paid off out of their jointly possessed property. If such property is insufficient to pay off the debts or, the items of the property are in the separate possession, the two parties shall work out an agreement with regard to the payment. If they fail to reach an agreement, the people's court shall make a judgment.

　　Article 42 If, at the time of divorce, one party has difficulties supporting himself or herself, the other party shall render appropriate help from her or his personal property such as a dwelling house. Specific arrangements shall be made between both parties through consultation. If they fail to reach an agreement, the people's court shall make a judgement.

　　Chapter V    Succour Measures and Legal Liability

　　Article 43 In regard to the domestic violence to or maltreatment of family member(s), the victim shall have the right to make a request, and the neighborhood or villager committee as well as the units in which the parties concerned work shall dissuade the wrongdoer, and offer mediation.

　　In regard to the domestic violence being committed, the victim shall have the right to make a request, the neighborhood or villager committee shall dissuade the wrongdoer, and the public security organ shall stop the violence.

　　If, in regard to the domestic violence to or maltreatment of family member(s), the victim makes a request, the public security organ shall subject the wrongdoer to administrative penalty in accordance with the relevant provisions of administrative sanctions for public order.

　　Article 44 In regard to the desertion of one family member by another, the victim shall have the right to make a request, and the neighborhood or villager committee as well as the units in which the parties concerned work shall dissuade the wrongdoer and offer mediation.

　　If, in regard to the desertion of one family member by another, the victim makes a request, the people's court shall pass a judgment on the effecting of maintenance, upbringing and support payments according to law.

　　Article 45 If bigamy, domestic violence to or maltreatment and desertion of family member(s) constitute a crime, the criminal responsibility of the wrongdoer shall be investigated according to law. The victim may institute a voluntary prosecution in a people's court in accordance with the relevant provisions of the criminal procedure law. The public security organ shall investigate the case according to law and the people's procuratorate shall initiate a public prosecution according to law.

　　Article 46 A no-fault party shall have the right to make a request for damage compensation under any of the following circumstances bringing about divorce:

　　(1)bigamy;

　　(2)cohabitation of a married person with any third party;

　　(3)domestic violence; and

　　(4)maltreatment and desertion of one family member by another.

　　Article 47 When the couple's joint property is divided, the party may get smaller or no share of the property if he or she conceals, transfers, sells off, destroys the couple's joint property, or forges debts in an attempt to convert the other party's property at the time of divorce. After divorce, the other party, on finding the above-mentioned acts, may file an action in a people's court, and make a request for another division of the couple's joint property.

　　Regarding the acts to the prejudice of the civil litigation that are specified in the preceding paragraph, the people's court shall subject the wrongdoer to the punishment according to the provisions of the civil procedure law.

　　Article 48 In cases where the person refuses to abide by judgements or rulings on maintenance, upbringing or support payments, or on the division or inheritance of property, or on visits to children, the people's court shall enforce the execution of the judgements or rulings according to law. The individuals and units concerned shall have the duty to assist such executions.

　　Article 49 Where laws provide otherwise against illegal acts and for legal liability in regard to marriage and family, the provisions in such laws shall apply.

　　Chapter VI   Supplementary Provisions

　　Article 50 The people's congresses in national autonomous areas shall have the right to formulate certain adaptations in the light of the specific conditions of the local nationalities in regard to marriage and family. Provisions of adaptations formulated by autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties must be submitted to the standing committee of the people's congress of the relevant province or autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government for approval. Provisions of adaptations formulated by autonomous regions must be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record.

　　Article 51 This Law shall come into force as of January 1, 1981.

　　The Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China promulgated on May 1, 1950 shall be invalidated as of the day this Law comes into force.