In a landmark ruling by the Provincial Court of Pontevedra in Spain, a man was ordered to pay his ex-wife €88,025.31($96,000) for her housework contributions during their 26-year marriage. This decision follows a legal battle in which the initial compensation was set at €120,000($130,138.32), but following appeals from both sides, the court reduced the amount by €32,000.
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According to Oddity Central, the legal verdict comes amid the former couple’s separation proceedings, which also saw the man retaining the family home. At the same time, the ex-wife was awarded a compensatory pension of €350 per month for three years, an amount that will be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The court recognized a significant imbalance in the wife’s position following the separation, noting her limited work history outside the home during the marriage. The judgment highlighted that she spent most of the marriage focusing on household duties and raising their daughter, contributing minimally to external employment for only 205 days across three years (1997, 1999, and 2009). Conversely, the husband maintained a steady career, accruing pension rights. Post-separation, the wife reentered the workforce at 58, facing limited career prospects.
This case underscores the enduring issue of marital imbalance, where the wife’s sacrifice in career opportunities for domestic responsibilities results in a financial and professional disadvantage upon separation. The initial ruling by the Court of First Instance number 12 of Vigo recognized this imbalance, prompting the compensatory measures under Article 97 of the Civil Code. The husband’s appeal sought to diminish the financial obligation, arguing that his ex-wife’s return to work post-separation negated any alleged economic imbalance caused by their marital split. He also contended that their adult daughter’s independence and absence from the mother’s home removed any future familial obligations.
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Despite acknowledging a shared responsibility in bearing the marital burdens, he contested the quantification of compensation, likening it to treating the wife as a full-time employee.
The wife’s appeal aimed to increase the compensation to €183,629.36, aligning with the interprofessional minimum wage over the marriage duration, discounting her brief employment period. She emphasized her significant domestic contributions and the resultant economic disparity post-separation, especially as she moved to rented accommodation while her husband kept the paid-off family home. Ultimately, the Provincial Court’s adjusted ruling highlights the nuanced considerations in determining fair compensation for domestic contributions in a marriage. It affirms the principle that both spouses’ contributions, whether financial or domestic, are vital to the marital partnership and that disparities created by traditional domestic roles warrant compensation upon separation.