Austria ABGB — KindNamRAG 2013¶
TL;DR¶
Austria's 2013 KindNamRAG reform codified joint parental responsibility as default for unmarried parents — closing the gap that drew ECHR criticism in Sporer v Austria. Section 138 ABGB enumerates twelve best-interest factors; section 187 ABGB obligates each parent to refrain from impairing the child's relationship with the other.
Key Provisions¶
Section 138 — Best-Interests Catalogue¶
Twelve enumerated factors include maintenance of stable relationships with both parents, the child's expressed wishes (age-appropriate weight), and each parent's willingness to facilitate the relationship with the other.
Section 187 — Duty Not to Impair¶
Each parent must refrain from anything that impairs the child's relationship with other caregiving persons. Mirrors Swiss ZGB Article 274.
Section 177 — Joint Obsorge¶
Joint parental responsibility is the default for unmarried parents post-2013.
Section 107 AusStrG — Procedural Levers¶
Court may order family counseling (Familiengerichtshilfe), appoint child advocate (Kinderbeistand), and impose coercive measures.
ECHR Jurisprudence¶
Hoffmann v Austria (1993)¶
Austria violated Articles 8 + 14 by withdrawing custody on religious-affiliation grounds.
Sporer v Austria (2011)¶
Austria violated Articles 14 + 8 by automatic maternal sole-custody assignment for unmarried parents. Triggered the 2013 reform.
OGH Jurisprudence¶
- 6Ob152/15a (2015): contact obstruction grounds for Obsorge reassignment
- 9Ob42/18d (2018): supervised contact is temporary tool, not permanent solution
- 4Ob190/22z (2022): persistent denigration grounds for therapeutic intervention or residence transfer
Cross-Border¶
- Brussels IIb (2019/1111) applies since 1 August 2022
- Hague 1980 central authority: Bundesministerium fur Justiz
Citing Posts¶
| Post | URL |
|---|---|
| Austrian Family Law | https://antialienate.com/blog/austria-parental-alienation |
| Joint Custody Reforms | https://antialienate.com/blog/joint-custody-reforms-europe |
| Article 8 ECHR Stack | https://antialienate.com/blog/article-8-echr-parental-alienation |
Sources¶
- ABGB: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10001622
- Hoffmann v Austria: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-57825
- Sporer v Austria: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-103404
- OGH decisions: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Jus/
By Alan Markson. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Disclaimer: Educational summary, not legal advice. Consult a qualified Austrian family-law attorney.