Customer Cases
What is wedding dowry money？ What are the legal regulations regarding dowries？
Time:2025-09-01 Views:607
Introduction: After China's reform and opening up, the term "marriage dowry money" emerged in Chinese social marriage customs. In the late 1970s, the main expenditure areas of "marriage dowry money" were the four major items known as "bicycles, sewing machines, radios, and watches". Later generations used the term "four major items" to express the connotation of "marriage dowry money".
What is wedding dowry money?
In the traditional sense, "wedding dowry money" refers to the money spent by the groom to purchase the wedding house, furniture, post marriage household items, and various wedding ceremonies. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was advocated that "marriage should not be about wealth". Before the 1980s, "marriage dowry money" had become a "diluted state" for a long time. After China's reform and opening up, marriage has become the top priority of the Chinese people. The "bride price" has gradually been valued by the Chinese people. Influenced by the western marriage culture, the "bride price" has changed from the single responsibility of the groom to the joint responsibility of the groom and the bride. Therefore, the Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China has been affected by it and proposed: "It is prohibited to arrange, buy and sell marriages and other acts that interfere with the freedom of marriage."
The provisions of Chinese law on marriage dowry money
The first article of the "Opinions of the Supreme People's Court on Several Issues Concerning the Implementation of Civil Policies and Laws" in 1984 stipulates: "If parents or others force arranged marriages against the will of both parties or one party, or forced marriages for the purpose of demanding property against the will of both parties or one party, and one party requests divorce, if the two parties have not established feelings after marriage, divorce should be granted.
According to Article 17 of the 1984 Opinion of the Supreme People's Court, "Property obtained from arranged marriages shall, in principle, be confiscated in accordance with the law upon divorce
Article 10 of the Interpretation II of the Supreme People's Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of the Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China, which came into effect on April 1, 2004, stipulates that "if a party requests the return of the dowry paid according to customs, the people's court shall support it if it is found that: (1) the two parties have not completed the marriage registration procedures; (2) the two parties have completed the marriage registration procedures but have not lived together; (3) the payment was made before marriage and has caused difficulties in the life of the payer. The application of the provisions of items (2) and (3) of the preceding paragraph shall be conditional on the divorce of both parties." This provision marks that the people's court has officially made clear provisions in the form of judicial interpretation on how to handle dowry disputes.
If you want to learn more about marriage law related issues, the editor recommends:
What is the dowry for marriage? The Marriage Law stipulates the dowry
What is the dowry for marriage? The Marriage Law stipulates the dowry
Under what circumstances do dowries need to be returned? Sichuan Faneng Law Firm is dedicated to serving you.