Faculty of Law, The University of West Indies at Mona

LA32A Family Law I - Law Relating to Husband and Wife
	1. General This course will be taught in the first Semester of the second and third year of the LL.B. degree programme. The course is an optional course but may be slated to be a prerequisite for other options. 2. Course Objective 83 This course explains the principles and policies which guide the law relating to husband and wife in the Commonwealth Caribbean including financial provision and other matters relating to property as well as proposals for reform. 3. Course Content The topics to be covered in this course include: i. Introduction to the Family Law of the Commonwealth Caribbean. ii. Marriage (a) Engagement Contracts (b) Contracts of Marriage, Capacity, Formalities, etc. (c) Annulment of Marriages. iii. Husband and Wife (a) Legal Effects of Marriage, e.g. unity of man and wife, contractual capacity of married women, right of consortium, various criminal and tort liability, marital communications. (b) Separation Agreements (c) Maintenance and Property Adjustment (d) Proceedings for Resolving Property Disputes (e) Ownership and Occupation of Matrimonial Home (f) Devolution of Property on Death (g) Property Rights of De Facto Spouses (h) Protection Against Domestic Violence iv. Divorce (a) Grounds for Divorce (b) Bars (Defences) to Divorce. 4. Method of Teaching The course will be taught by way of two lectures and one tutorial per week. Each lecture and tutorial will be of one hour duration. 5. Method of Assessment 84 This course will be assessed by means of a two-hour final examination at the end of the semester in which it is taught. Students will be required to answer three questions selected from a total of six questions