Research areas

“The European Marriage – Consensual and Alternative Dispute Resolution for Transnational Partnerships”

The aim of this research project is to use the new legal institution of the European marriage to promote consensual dispute resolution in transnational partnerships. Divorce law and the law governing the consequences of divorce, as the core of the optional model, must be structured—not only in terms of substantive law but also in terms of procedural law—in such a way as to favor amicable arrangements at all stages of family conflict: Efforts must be made at an early stage to reach as comprehensive an agreement as possible on the consequences of divorce; agreements on these consequences must be recognized and enforced across borders and, under certain circumstances, be adaptable in the event of a change in circumstances. Following the implementation of the Mediation Directive, the introduction of mediation procedures will play a central role in this regard. Furthermore, the initiation of arbitration proceedings regarding certain consequences of divorce could address the needs of transnational couples, particularly in more complex cases. The aim of the planned comparative legal studies on divorce proceedings, as well as on mediation and arbitration in family matters, is also to generally explore the possibilities offered by alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in family disputes and, in particular, in cross-border conflicts.

“Family Law Compensation Systems Following Divorce and Separation”
Funded by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation from 2008–2009

The aim of this research project is to develop new family law compensation systems for cases of divorce or separation that better reflect the changing realities of modern life. Under current German law, the primary instruments for property settlement upon divorce are spousal support, equalization of accrued gains, and pension rights equalization. In contrast, current law does not grant comparable claims following the separation of an unmarried couple, even if they lived together with children. The existing compensation systems lack a coherent conceptual framework. Above all, however, they no longer adequately reflect changing social conditions. Many foreign legal systems today provide for fundamentally different compensation instruments in the event of divorce or separation, which better accommodate the widespread changes in family life and the distribution of responsibilities. Based on a comparative legal analysis, a new set of family law compensation instruments is to be developed that not only better corresponds to current social conditions in Germany but also enables appropriate solutions in light of future changes.

“The European Marriage – An Optional Instrument in European Family Law”
Funded by the German Research Foundation from 2007 to 2009

The aim of the research project is to develop a new legal institution, the “European Marriage,” which would provide couples whose marriage has a cross-border dimension with a uniform body of substantive law. Such a marriage could be entered into, maintained, and dissolved under the same conditions throughout the entire scope of the regulation. Its existence and effects would thus be independent of any subsequent change of residence. By creating uniform substantive family law for cross-border situations, the difficulties caused by the current diversity of laws for married couples whose relationship has a foreign element due to their nationality or residence are addressed. The European marriage could be chosen by the spouses in the form of an optional model. Uniform law would thus exist as an alternative alongside the domestic substantive law of the Member States. A complete harmonization of the provisions of substantive family law would therefore not be necessary at this stage.

Die Grenzen der elterlichen Sorge bei der Veröffentlichung von Bildern und Videos des eigenen Kindes in sozialen Netzwerken und auf Video-Sharing-Plattformen

(2024)

Die Rechtsstellung des Kindes im Wechselmodell. Ein Rechtsvergleich mit der alternierenden Obhut in der Schweiz

(2022)

Vermögensrechtliche Ausgleichsansprüche bei Scheidung einer Unternehmerehe in Deutschland und Italien

(2021)

Grenzüberschreitende Leihmutterschaft als Herausforderung im Internationalen Privat- und Verfahrensrecht

(2020)

Das rechtliche Spannungsverhältnis zwischen Ehe und Betreuung

(2019)

Nacheheliche Verantwortung in Frankreich und Deutschland

(2017)

Die Bewertung börsennotierter Aktien bei der Berechnung von Pflichtteils- und Zugewinnausgleichsansprüchen

(2015)

Mediation als Verfahren der konsensualen Konfliktbeilegung bei Trennung und Scheidung

(2015)

Die postmortale Befruchtung im deutschen und spanischen Recht

(2014)

Die Form der Eheschließung

(2013)

Der Wahlgüterstand der Gütertrennung für die Europäische Ehe

(2011)

Die gleichgeschlechtliche Ehe im Internationalen Privatrecht unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Einflusses des EG-Vertrages

(2011)

Das Prinzip der familiären Solidarität im Unterhaltsrecht des BGB – mit Schwerpunkt nachehelicher Unterhalt

(2010)

Der zwischenzeitliche Zugewinnausgleich

(2010)

Grenzüberschreitende Vorsorgevollmachten in Europa im Licht des Haager Übereinkommens über den Internationalen Schutz von Erwachsenen vom 13. Januar 2000

(2010)

Inhaltskontrolle von Eheverträgen

(2007)

Die Vollstreckung von Umgangsregelungen

(2007)

Das Umgangsrecht von "Nicht-Eltern"

(2005)