Research on Family Dispute Resolution in China

本研究项目的目的是为了说明中国解决家庭纠纷的基本方案和程序的特点。与本研究项目的既定目标相关的研究结果如下：首先，对中国现行法律和司法制度的审查表明，由于最近的司法制度改革，家事调解的方案和程序得到了改进。第二，关于家庭争端，在目前的司法行政范围内，解决争端的程序被视为分为若干领域，例如：法庭解决、调解和诉讼，以及利用和强调ADR（庭外解决和调解）。也可以说，无论是庭内调解还是庭外调解，都能有效地解决家庭矛盾。然而，在未来，诉讼可能会在更大程度上用于争议解决，在诉讼过程中的调解将成为一个重要因素。第三，虽然离婚调解和诉讼程序在日本是分开进行的，但根据修订后的《2003年个人诉讼法》，在家庭法院的保护伞下，同样的程序在中国并不是相互独立的。也可以说，中国目前还没有针对家庭纠纷的具体方案或特别程序，但未来可能会实施新的制度。第四，纠纷解决的法律标准不仅适用于法庭，也适用于庭外和解。有关的法律标准，其基本原则和内容仅仅是规定下来的，然后由通常宣布对行为规定作出统一解释的法院最终确定。

The purpose of this research project is to illustrate the characteristics of the basic scheme and procedures for resolving family disputes in China. The findings relating to the stated aims of the research project are as follows :Firstly, the examination of the current Acts and judicial system in China, shows that the scheme and procedures of mediation for family matters have been improved due to the recent reform of the judicial system.Secondly, with respect to family disputes, within the current administration of the judiciary, procedures of dispute resolution are seen to be separated into a number of areas relating to, for example : settlement in court, mediation and litigation, and the utilization and emphasis on ADR (settlement and mediation in out-of-court settings). It may also be argued that both in-court and out-of-court mediation brings about effective settlements of family conflicts. Litigation, however, is likely to be used to a greater degree for dispute resolution in the future, where mediation in the middle of a litigation process will become an important factor.Thirdly, whilst procedures relating to divorce mediation and litigation are carried out separately in Japan, under an umbrella of a family court, in accordance with the revised Personal Litigation Act 2003, the same procedures are not independent of each other in China. It may also be said that specific schemes or special procedures are not currently available in China for family disputes, but a new system may be implemented sometime in the future.Fourthly, legal criteria for dispute resolution are applied not only in court, but also for out-of-court settlements. The legal criteria in question, whose basic principles and contents have been merely laid down, are then finally established by the court that usually declares unified interpretation of provisions of Acts.