| Based on analyzing and discussing the meaning of betrothal gifts and its historical origin, this article analyzed and proved the regulation on betrothal gifts to return and its law attribute, made further research by mainly focusing on judicial applicability of regulation and lacking of return of betrothal gifts and how to perfect it. The main content of each part is as follows:This first part is on the meaning of betrothal gifts and its historical origin. This part mainly introduced the meaning of betrothal gifts and its historical origin. Firstly, the author briefly introduced the meaning of betrothal gifts. Betrothal gifts is also called bride-price or down payment, now called betrothal gifts in most cases. It originates from system of six ceremonies of betrothal & marriage. Definition of it is not completely same from different scholars. By referring to opinions of various scholars, the author defines it to be the payment groom or his family makes to the bride or her family during the process of concluding a marriage. To define the meaning of betrothal gifts accurately, we should also distinguish it from asking for money items by marriage and general present upon wedding contract. Betrothal gift is presentation from true meaning while asking from money items by marriage is a kind of misuse of marital autonomy, in which presentation of money items to the other party is forced and a kind of behavior of one party. The difference between betrothal gifts and general presentation upon marriage is the intention providing betrothal gifts is very clear rather than general exchange of gifts. The purpose of betrothal gifts is to conclude marriage while the amount of general presentation upon marriage is less and voluntary without paying particular attention to ceremony and any condition, under which beneficial has not obligation to return. Betrothal gift has a long historical, dictation of which comes from selected gift Western Zhou more than 3000 years ago. Dynasties of Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing all had corresponding regulation to it. In ancient times, it appeared in way of constitutional law. However, after new China was established, in order to put an end to purchase marriage and carry out the principle of freedom of marriage, derecognize wedding contract, betrothal gift is also not advocated, which appears in way of folk custom all the time. There is no state regulation on it. However, with the reform and open-up, change of society, flow of population and trend of value pluralism, in 2004 the state regulated betrothal gifts in form of judicial interpretation, which makes betrothal gifts in formal legal system of the state from folk custom again. That this interpretation appears brings convenience for trial practice, however, it also suffers from lots of criticism and makes it more difficult for judge to deal with such kind of problems.This second part is evaluation of betrothal gifts to return and its law attribute.This author firstly analyzed the problem on regulation of betrothal gifts to return from interpretation of civil judicature point of view, introduced concrete regulation on betrothal gifts in details and also made evaluation and analysis to it. After that, the author explained betrothal gifts from criminal law aspect-the two criminals and accusations relevant to betrothal gifts which are crime of fraud from article 266 of Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China and crime of encroachment from article 276 of same law. Because there is no legal rule on law attribute of betrothal gifts, there are many disputes in theory without uniform understanding. There are about 6 opinions in theoretical circle, the author agrees with the sixth that is betrothal gift is a presenting behavior with termination conditions. In the article, the author also made corresponding evaluation and analysis to other five opinions. Betrothal gift to return is based on dissolution of marriage. Presenting behavior happens once one party pays the other party betrothal gifts that is it happens as long as this condition is set up, after wedding contract is dissolved, the legal base under which receiver continues to possesses betrothal gifts disappears, based on the principle of fairness in Civil Law, it is reasonable only after the property is recovered to the status before wedding. Receiver should return betrothal gifts to donor. If receiver refuses and continues to possess betrothal gifts, this is unjustified enrichment according to Civil Law. Receiver should return all unjustified enrichment back.The third part is about the judicial applicability of betrothal gifts to return in our country. In this part, the author discussed it in several aspects. 1, Principal part of betrothal gifts to return in justice procedure: the author thinks it is not the same in trial practice, in which there is very confusing. It is necessary to regulated it. 2, The scope of betrothal gifts to return: now there is no regulation in current law and judicial interpretation. The author thinks that we should grasp from constitutive feature of betrothal gifts to see if we treat it as betrothal gifts that is based on if wedding contract is concluded or not. We need grasp based on three features such as local custom, value of provided property and local living level. Besides, it is necessary to make it clear the case in which betrothal gifts will not be returned or will be returned partly after careful consideration in practice. 3, Action limitation of betrothal gifts to return: for there is no provision on it in this judicial interpretation, there are problems in reality on if common or special action limitation is applicable on betrothal gifts to return and how to start counting. The author thinks for right protection to betrothal gifts to return, common action limitation should be applicable, regarding when to start counting on concrete action limitation, we should do by dividing it into several cases. 4, Evidence verification: the author thinks we should not be too strict to both parties in actual trial. In the case of such type, proving standard should follow principle of highly probable. As long as the evidence listed by the part makes the judge quite believe the legal truth of the case and can eliminate other reasonable doubt, it can be verified as truth objectively.The fourth part talks about lacking and perfection of provision on betrothal gifts to return in our country.On April 1, 2004, Explanations-2 on Several Issues Concerning'Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China'by Supreme People's Court was performed, which made clear regulation on betrothal gifts to return. Article 10 of this interpretation unified judging yardstick on the dispute of betrothal gifts and was positive to solve cases on dispute of betrothal gifts. However, this rule is too rigid and depending on principle. Its law terms are not normative. Principal part in justice procedure and action limitation is not clear. Uniform yardstick is not there on betrothal gifts to return. For this, it should made clear legally. Time should be made as use condition of betrothal gifts to return. Principal part in justice procedure and action limitation should be made clear and function of monitoring and guiding of court of second instance should be fully exerted. Corresponding instruction in this local scope is issued to make it have uniform law enforcement yardstick on betrothal gifts to return, only by which dispute can be stopped and case can be ended. It has realistic meaning in maintaining current social stability and harmony.
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