conflicts of laws memory aid

8/3/2019 Conflicts of Laws Memory Aid

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CONFLICTS OF LAWS; DEFINITION:

1. That part ofthe law ofeach state or nation which determines whether,in dealing witha legal situation,the law or some other stateor nation will berecognized, given effect, orapplied (16 Am Jur, 2d, Conflict of Laws, 1).

2. That part ofmunicipal law ofa statewhich directs its courts and administrativeagencies,when confronted witha legal probleminvolving a foreign element,whether or notthey should applya foreign law/s (Paras).

DISTINGUISHED FROM PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW

BASIS CONFLICT OF LAW LAW OF NATIONS

1 Nature Municipal in character International in character

2 Persons involved Dealtwith by privateindividuals; governs

individuals in their privatetransactions

whichinvolvea foreign element

Sovereign states and otherentities

possessing international personality,e.g.,

UN; governs states in theirrelationships

amongstthemselves

3 Transactions

involved

Privatetransactions between private

individuals

Generallyaffected by publicinterest; those

in general areofinterest onlyto sovereign

states

4 Remedies and

Sanctions

Resortto municipal tribunals May be peaceful or forcible

Peaceful: includes diplomatic negotiation,

tender & exercise of good offices,mediation,inquiry & conciliation,

arbitration, judicial settlement by ICJ,

referenceto regional agencies

Forcible: includes severance of diplomatic

relations,retorsions,reprisals,embargo,

boycott, non-intercourse, pacific

blockades,collectivemeasures underthe

UN Charter,and war.

SOURCES:

DIRECT:

1. Constitutions

2. Codifications

3. Special Laws4. Treaties and Conventions5. Judicial Decisions6. International CustomsINDIRECT:

1. Natural moral law

2. Work ofwriters

TERMS:

LEXDOMICILII- law ofthe domicile; in conflicts,the law of one's domicileapplied in thechoice of law questions

LEXFORI- law ofthe forum; thatis,the positive law ofthe state,country or jurisdiction ofwhose judicial system ofthecourtwherethe

suitis brought orremedyis soughtis an integral part. Substantiverights are determined bythe lawwheretheaction arose (lex loci) while

the procedural rights are governed bythe law ofthe place ofthe forum (lex fori)

LEXLOCI- law ofthe place


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LEXLOCICONTRACTUS - the law ofthe placewherethecontractwas made or law ofthe placewherethecontractis to be governed (place of

performance) whichmay ormay not bethe sameas that ofthe placewhereitwas made

LEXLOCIREISITAE - law ofthe placewherethething or subjectmatteris situated; thetitleto realty or question ofreal estate lawcan be

affected only bythe law ofthe placewhereitis situated

LEXSITUS- law ofthe placewhere propertyis situated; the general ruleis that lands and otherimmovables are governed bythe law ofthe

statewheretheyare situated

LEXLOCIACTUS - law ofthe placewheretheactwas done

LEXLOCICELEBRATIONIS - law ofthe placewherethecontractis made

LEXLOCISOLUTIONIS - law ofthe placeof solution; the law ofthe placewhere payment or performance ofacontractis to bemade

LEXLOCIDELICTICOMMISSI- law ofthe placewherethecrimetook place

LEXMEREATORIA - lawmerchant; commercial law; that system of laws whichis adopted byall commercial nations and constituteas part of

the law ofthe land; part ofcommon law

LEXNONSCRIPTA - theunwritten common law,whichincludes general and particularcustoms and particular local laws

LEXPATRIAE - national law

RENVOI DOCTRINE - doctrinewherebya jural matteris presented whichtheconflict of laws rules ofthe forumreferto a foreign lawwhichin

turn,refers thematter backto the law ofthe forum orathird state. When referenceis made backto the law ofthe forum,this is said to

be "remission" whilereferenceto athird stateis called "transmission."

NATIONALITY THEORY-byvirtue ofwhichthe status and capacity ofan individual are generally governed bythe law ofhis nationality. This is

principallyadopted in the RP

DOMICILIARY

THEORY

- in general, the status,condition, rights, obligations, & capacity ofa person should be governed bythe law ofhisdomicile.

LONG ARM STATUTES - Statutes allowing thecourts to exercise jurisdiction when thereareminimumcontacts between the non-resident

defendantand the forum.

WAYSOFDEALINGWITHACONFLICTSPROBLEM:

1. Dismiss thecase for lack of jurisdiction, or on the ground of forumnon-conveniensDOCTRINEOFFORUMNONCONVENIENS - the forumis inconvenient; theends of justicewould be best served bytrial in another

forum; thecontroversymay bemore suitablytried elsewhere

2. Assume jurisdiction and applyeitherthe law ofthe forum or ofanother statea. APPLYINTERNALLAW - forum law should beapplied wheneverthereis good reason to do so; thereis a good reason when any

one ofthe following factors is present:

i. A specific law of the forum decrees that internal law should applyExamples:


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y Article. 16 ofthe Civil Code - real and personal property subjectto the law ofthecountrywheretheyare situated andtestamentary succession governed bylex nationalii

y Article 829 ofthe Civil Code - makes revocation done outside Philippines valid according to law ofthe placewherewillwas made orlex domicilii

y Article 819 ofthe Civil Code - prohibits Filipinos frommaking jointwills even ifvalid in foreign countryii. The proper foreign law was not properly pleaded and proved

NOTICEAND PROOFOFFOREIGN LAW

y As a general rule,courts do nottake judicial notice of foreign laws; Foreign laws must be pleaded and provedy Effect of failureto plead and prove foreign law (3 alternatives) ofthe forumcourt:

(a) Dismiss thecase forinabilityto establishcause ofaction(b) Assumethatthe foreign law ofthe sameas the law ofthe forum(c) Applythe law ofthe forum

iii. The case falls under any of the exceptions to the application of foreign law Exceptions to application of foreign law:

(a) The foreign lawis contraryto the public policy ofthe forum(b) The foreign lawis procedural in nature(c) Thecaseinvolves issues related to property,real or personal (lex situs)(d) Theissueinvolved in theenforcement of foreign claimis fiscal oradministrative(e) The foreign law or judgmentis contraryto good morals (contra bonos mores)(f) The foreign lawis penal in character(g) When application ofthe foreign lawmayworkundeniableinjusticeto thecitizens ofthe forum(h) When application ofthe foreign lawmightendangerthevital interest ofthe state

b. APPLY FOREIGN LAW - when properly pleaded and proved

THEORIES WHY FOREIGN LAW SHOULD BE GIVEN EFFECT

1. Theory of Comity foreign lawis applied because ofits convenience & becausewewantto giveprotection to ourcitizens,residents,& transients in our land

2. Theory of Vested Rights we seekto enforce not foreign lawitself buttherights thathave been vested under such foreign law; anact donein another statemay giveriseto theexistence ofarightifthe laws ofthat statecrated suchright.

3. Theory of Local Law- adherents ofthis school ofthought believethatweapply foreign law not becauseitis foreign, but because ourlaws, byapplying similarrules,requireus to do so; hence,itis as ifthe foreign lawhas become part & parcel of our local law

4. Theory of Harmony of Laws theorists hereinsistthatin manycases wehaveto applythe foreign laws so thatwhereveracaseisdecided, that is, irrespective of the forum, the solution should be approximately the same; thus, identical or similar solutions

anywhere & everywhere. When the goal is realized,therewill be harmony of laws

5. Theory of Justice the purpose ofall laws,including Conflict of Laws,is the dispensing of justice; ifthis can beattained in maycasesapplying the proper foreign law,wemust do so

RULES ON STATUS IN GENERAL

FACTUAL SITUATION POINT OF CONTACT

1 Beginning of personality of natural person National law ofthechild (Article 15, CC)

2 Ways & effects ofemancipation Same

3 Age ofmajority Same

4 Use of names and surnames Same

5 Use oftitles of nobility Same

6 Absence Same

7 Presumptive death & survivorship Lex fori(Article 43, 390, 391, CC; Rule 131 5 [jj],

Rules of Court)


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RULES ON MARRIAGE AS A CONTRACT


CelebratedA

broad

Between Filipinos Lex loci celebrationisis without prejudiceto the

exceptions under Articles 25, 35 (1, 4, 5 & 6), 36, 37 &

38 ofthe Family Code (bigamous & incestuous

marriages) & consularmarriages

Between Foreigners Lex loci celebrationisEXCEPTifthemarriageis:

a. Highlyimmoral (like bigamous/ polygamousmarriages)

b. Universallyconsidered incestuous (betweenbrother-sister,and ascendants-descendants)

Mixed Apply 1 (b) to uphold validity ofmarriage

Celebrated

in

RP

Between Foreigners National law (Article 21, FC) PROVIDED themarriage

is not highly immoral or universally considered

incestuous)

Mixed National law of Filipino (otherwise public policymay

bemilitated against)

Marriage by proxy (NOTE: a marriage by proxy is

considered celebrated wherethe proxyappears

Lex loci celebrationis (with prejudiceto the foregoing

rules)

RULES ON MARRIAGE AS A STATUS


1 Personal rights & obligations between husband & wife National ofhusband

(Note: Effect of subsequentchange of nationality:

a. If bothwill havea new nationality the new oneb. If only onewill change the lastcommon

nationalityc. If no common nationality nationality ofhusband atthetime ofwedding)

2 Propertyrelations bethusband & wife National law ofhusband without prejudiceto what

the CC provides concerning REAL property located in

the RP (Article 80) (NOTE: Change of nationalityhas

NO EFFECT. This is theDOCTRINE OF IMMUTABILITY

IN THE MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY REGIME)


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RULES ON PROPERTY


REAL PROPERTY Lex rei sitae (Article 16, CC)

Exceptions

Successional rights National law of decedent (Article 16 par. 2, CC)

Capacityto succeed National law of decedent (Article. 1039)

Contracts involving real propertywhich do not deal

withthetitlethereto

The law intended will be the proper law of the

contract (lex loci voluntantis orlex loci intentionis)

Contracts wherethereal propertyis given as security The principal contract (usually loan) is governed by

the proper law oftthecontract (lex loci voluntatis or

lex loci intentionis)

NOTE: themortgageitselfis governed bylex rei sitae.

Thereis a possibilitythatthe principal contractis valid

butthemortgageis void; oritmay bethe otherway

around. Ifthe principal contractis void,themortgage

will also bevoid (for lack of propercause or

consideration),although byitself,themortgagecould

have been valid.

TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY (CHOSES IN POSSESSION)

1 IN GENERAL Lexrei sitae (Article. 16, CC)

Exceptions: sameas those forreal property EXCEPTION: sameas those forreal property EXCEPT

thatin theexampleconcerning mortgage,the same

must bechanged to pledge of personal property)

2 MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

Vessels Law ofthe flag (orin somecases, place ofregistry)

Othermeans Law ofthe depot (storage place for supplies orresting

place)

3 THINGS IN TRANSITU(THESE THINGS HAVE A CHANGING STATUS

BECAUSE THEY MOVE)

Loss, destruction, deterioration Law ofthe destination (Article. 1753, CC)

Validity& effect ofthe seizure ofthe goods Locus regit actum (where seized) because said place

is theirtemporarysitus

Disposition oralienage ofthe goods Lex loci volutantis orlex loci intentionis because

herethereis acontract

INTANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY (CHOSES IN ACTION)

1 Recovery of debts orinvoluntaryassignment of debts

(garnishment)

2 Voluntaryassignment of debts Where debtormay beeffectively served with

summons (usuallythe domicile)

OTHER THEORIES:

a. National law ofthe debtor orcreditorb. Domicile ofthe debtor orcreditorc. Lex loci celebrationis

Lex loci solutionis

Lex loci voluntatis orlex loci intentionis (proper law of

thecontract)

3 d. Taxation of debts4 Administration of debts Domicile ofcreditor

5 Negotiability or non-negotiability ofan instrument Lex situs ofassets ofthe debtor (fortheseassets can

beheld liable forthe debts)

6 Validity oftransfer, delivery or negotiation ofthe Therightembodied in theinstrument (forexample,in


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instrument thecase ofa Swedish bill ofexchange, Swedish law

determines its negotiability)

7 Effect on acorporation ofthe sale ofcorporate shares In general, situs oftheinstrumentatthetime of

transfer, delivery or negotiation

8 Effect between the parties ofthe sale ofcorporate

shares

Law ofthe placeincorporation

9 Taxation on the dividends ofcorporate shares Lex locivoluntatis or lex lociintentionis (proper law of

thecontract) forthis is reallyacontract; usuallythis

is the placewherethecertificateis delivered)

10 Taxation on theincome fromthe sale ofcorporate

shares

Law ofthe place ofincorporation

11 Franchises Law ofthe placewherethe salewas consummated

12 Goodwill ofthe business & taxation thereto Law ofthe placethat granted them

13 Patents,copyrights,trademarks,trade names Law ofthe placewherethe business is carried on

Wills, Succession & Administration of Conflict Rules


EXTRINSIC VALIDITY OF WILLS

1 Made byan alien abroad Lex nationaliiOR lex domiciliiOR RP law (Article 816,CC), OR lex loci celebrationis (Article 17(1))

2 Made bya Filipino abroad Lex nationaliiOR lex loci celebrationis (Article 815)

3 Made byan alien in the RP Lex nationaliiOR lex loci celebrationis (Article 817)


EXTRINSIC VALIDITY OF JOINTWILLS (MADE IN THE SAME INSTRUMENT)

1 Made by Filipinos abroad Lex nationalii(void,even ifvalid wheremade) (Article

819)

2 Made byaliens abroad Valid ifvalid according to lex domiciliiorlex loci

celebrationis (Article 819)

3 Made byaliens in the RP Lex loci celebrationisthereforevoid even ifapparently

allowed by Article 817 becausethe prohibition on

jointwills is aclearexpression of public policy

INTRINSIC VALIDITY OF WILLS Lex nationaliiofthe deceased regardless ofthe

LOCATION & NATURE ofthe property (Article 16 (2))

CAPACITYTO SUCCEED Lex nationaliiofthe deceased not oftheheir (Article

1039)

REVOCATION OF WILLS

1 If donein the RP Lex loci actus (oftherevocation) (Article. 829)

2 If done OUTSIDE the RP

a. Bya NON-DOMICILIARY Lex loci celebrationis (ofthemaking ofthewill, NOTrevocation), OR lex domicilii(Article 829)

b. Bya DOMICILIARY ofthe RP Lex domicilii(RP law) OR lex loci actus (oftherevocation) (Article 17)

PROBATE OF WILLS MADE ABROAD

1 If notyet probated abroad Lex foriofthe RP applies as to the procedural aspects,

i.e.,thewill must be fully probated here & due

execution must be shown

2 Ifalready probated abroad Lex foriofthe RP again applies as to the procedural

aspects; mustalso be probated here, butinstead of

proving dueexecution, generallyitis enoughto ask

fortheenforcementhere ofthe foreign judgment on

the probateabroad


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EXECUTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS

1 Whereappointed Placewhere domiciled at death orincase of non-

domiciliary,whereassets are found

2 Powers Co-extensivewiththe qualifying oftheappointing

court powers may only beexercised within the

territorial jurisdiction ofthecourtconcerned

NOTE: theserules also applyto principal, domiciliary,

orancillaryadministrators & receivers even in non-

successivecases

RULES ON OBLIGATION AND CONTRACTS


FORMAL OR EXTRINSIC VALIDITY Lex loci celebrationis (Article 17 {1})

Exceptions

a. Alienation & encumbrance of property Lex situs (Article 16 [1])b. Consularcontracts Law ofthe RP (ifmadein RP consulates)

CAPACITY OF CONTRACTING PARTIES National law (Article 15) without prejudiceto thecaseof Insular Governmentv Frank 13 P 236,wherethe SC

adhered to thetheory oflex loci celebrationis

Exception

Alienation & encumbrance of property Lex situs (Article 16 {1})

INTRINSIC VALIDITY(INCLUDING INTERPRETATION OF THE INSTRUMENTS,

AND AMT. OF DAMAGES FOR BREACH)

Proper law ofthecontract lex contractus (in the

broad sense),meaning thelex voluntatis orlex loci

intentionis

OTHER THEORIES ARE:

a. Lex loci celebrationis (defect: this makes possibletheevasion ofthe national law)b. Lex nationalii(defect: this mayimpedecommercial transactions)c. Lex loci solutionis (law ofthe place of performance) (defect: theremay be several places of performanced. Prof Minors solution:

i. Perfection lex loci celebrationisii. Cause orconsideration lex loci considerationsiii. Performance lex loci solutionis (defect: this theorycombines the defect ofthe others)

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