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Sambo - mer än att sambo: En studie av sambobegreppet i offentligrätten

Bergstrand, Clara LU (2020) JURM02 20202
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
This study examines the construction and boundaries of the legal definition of cohabitation as well as the relation’s consequences in public law decisions, examining housing allowance, distraint, and the right to cohabit in nursing homes. Cohabitation lacks the marital formalities, such as marriage and divorce, and is therefore inherently an informal relationship. In addition, the requisites constructing the legal definition of cohabitation – that is, two people who permanently live together in a romantic relationship and household – are difficult, if not impossible, to define. Moreover, the definition carries historical and cultural assumptions of the family, which makes it normative and exposed to arbitrary assessments. Furthermore,... (More)
This study examines the construction and boundaries of the legal definition of cohabitation as well as the relation’s consequences in public law decisions, examining housing allowance, distraint, and the right to cohabit in nursing homes. Cohabitation lacks the marital formalities, such as marriage and divorce, and is therefore inherently an informal relationship. In addition, the requisites constructing the legal definition of cohabitation – that is, two people who permanently live together in a romantic relationship and household – are difficult, if not impossible, to define. Moreover, the definition carries historical and cultural assumptions of the family, which makes it normative and exposed to arbitrary assessments. Furthermore, cohabitation have, in comparison to the marital union, few legal consequences in regard to family law. Even so, cohabitation is equated with marriage in public law, which means that the legal presumptions, rights, and obligations that are applicable for married couples are also applicable for cohabitating couples. However, because of the informality of the cohabiting union, there are no clear boundaries for when the regulations will be applied, which makes the application legally insecure. In addition, the romantic relationship plays an essential part in the legal construction of the cohabiting union, but as the modern romantic relationship is unstable and inconstant, it makes an inadequate choice for a legally secure definition. Nonetheless, it is by the requisite of the romantic relationship that cohabitation is being equated to marriage and by which marital rights and obligations are being applied to the union, even though these are not described in any type of cohabitation legislation. The relationship is furthermore a fundamental factor in separating other types of households, such as siblings or friends living together, from the legal definition of cohabitation. In the legal documents assessed, these households are depicted as divergent and unnatural, while the romantic relationship is described as natural and normal. This distinction makes it impossible to include other types of households, other than the romantic relationship, which can affect the outcome of legal decisions. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
I den här uppsatsen undersöks samboskapets konstruktion och avgränsning samt påverkan på offentligrättslig lagstiftning i relation till rättssäkerhet och måluppfyllelse. Studieobjekten för undersökningen är bostadsbidraget, utmätning och parboendegarantin då samboskapet kan påverka beslut om dessa. Samboskapet saknar äktenskapets formella ramar i form av giftermål och skilsmässa, vilket gör det till en i grunden informell rättslig relation. Därtill är rekvisiten som konstruerar relationen – två personer som stadigvarande bor tillsammans i ett parförhållande och har ett gemensamt hushåll – svåra att konkretisera och avgränsa på ett tillfredställande sätt. Samtidigt bär begreppet på historiska och kulturella antaganden om familjen vilket gör... (More)
I den här uppsatsen undersöks samboskapets konstruktion och avgränsning samt påverkan på offentligrättslig lagstiftning i relation till rättssäkerhet och måluppfyllelse. Studieobjekten för undersökningen är bostadsbidraget, utmätning och parboendegarantin då samboskapet kan påverka beslut om dessa. Samboskapet saknar äktenskapets formella ramar i form av giftermål och skilsmässa, vilket gör det till en i grunden informell rättslig relation. Därtill är rekvisiten som konstruerar relationen – två personer som stadigvarande bor tillsammans i ett parförhållande och har ett gemensamt hushåll – svåra att konkretisera och avgränsa på ett tillfredställande sätt. Samtidigt bär begreppet på historiska och kulturella antaganden om familjen vilket gör det normativt och öppet för skönsmässig tillämpning. I jämförelse med äktenskapet har samboskapet begränsade civilrättsliga följder, men likställs med äktenskapet i offentligrättslig lagstiftning. Samma presumtioner tillämpas därmed på sambor som på makar i offentligrättslig lagstiftning och samboskapet tillskrivs samma offentligrättsliga rättigheter och skyldigheter som äktenskapet. Till skillnad från äktenskapet finns det dock inga tydliga gränser för när dessa rättsliga konsekvenser ska inträda för sambor, vilket gör hanteringen av samboskapet i offentligrättsliga beslut rättsosäker. Centralt för konstruktionen och avgränsningen av sambobegreppet är rekvisitet parförhållande. Samtidigt är denna mellanmänskliga relation ofta oklar i dagens västerländska samhälle vilket gör den till ett oberäkneligt val för rättslig begreppskonstruktion. Det är även genom parförhållandet som samboskapet likställs med äktenskapet och genom vilket äktenskapligt ansvar i form av exempelvis underhållsskyldighet appliceras på samboskapet. Detta trots att det inte föreligger några sådana juridiska skyldigheter i sambolagen. Parförhållandet används även för att avgränsa andra relationer – såsom syskon eller vänner som bor ihop – från lagstiftning och sådana hushåll konstrueras i förarbetena som avvikande. Dessa relationer kan därmed inte inkluderas i sambolagen eller likställas med äktenskapet i offentlig rätten. Parförhållandet som en central del av sambobegreppet gör särskilt bevisfrågan komplicerad, både för handläggande myndigheter och den enskilde, vilket bidrar till ytterligare rättssäkerhetsproblem. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bergstrand, Clara LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Cohabitation - more than just living together. A study of cohabitation in public law.
course
JURM02 20202
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
offentligrätt, socialrätt, familjerätt, sambo, samboskap, bostadsbidrag, utmätning, parboendegarantin, välfärd, diskursanalys
language
Swedish
id
9034580
date added to LUP
2021-01-25 12:23:05
date last changed
2021-01-25 12:23:05
@misc{9034580,
  abstract     = {{This study examines the construction and boundaries of the legal definition of cohabitation as well as the relation’s consequences in public law decisions, examining housing allowance, distraint, and the right to cohabit in nursing homes. Cohabitation lacks the marital formalities, such as marriage and divorce, and is therefore inherently an informal relationship. In addition, the requisites constructing the legal definition of cohabitation – that is, two people who permanently live together in a romantic relationship and household – are difficult, if not impossible, to define. Moreover, the definition carries historical and cultural assumptions of the family, which makes it normative and exposed to arbitrary assessments. Furthermore, cohabitation have, in comparison to the marital union, few legal consequences in regard to family law. Even so, cohabitation is equated with marriage in public law, which means that the legal presumptions, rights, and obligations that are applicable for married couples are also applicable for cohabitating couples. However, because of the informality of the cohabiting union, there are no clear boundaries for when the regulations will be applied, which makes the application legally insecure. In addition, the romantic relationship plays an essential part in the legal construction of the cohabiting union, but as the modern romantic relationship is unstable and inconstant, it makes an inadequate choice for a legally secure definition. Nonetheless, it is by the requisite of the romantic relationship that cohabitation is being equated to marriage and by which marital rights and obligations are being applied to the union, even though these are not described in any type of cohabitation legislation. The relationship is furthermore a fundamental factor in separating other types of households, such as siblings or friends living together, from the legal definition of cohabitation. In the legal documents assessed, these households are depicted as divergent and unnatural, while the romantic relationship is described as natural and normal. This distinction makes it impossible to include other types of households, other than the romantic relationship, which can affect the outcome of legal decisions.}},
  author       = {{Bergstrand, Clara}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Sambo - mer än att sambo: En studie av sambobegreppet i offentligrätten}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}