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Code civil art. 373-2-11 — Critères du JAF (verbatim, 6 statutory factors)

Jurisdiction: France · Citation: Code civil art. 373-2-11 · Authoritative source: legifrance.gouv.fr — art. 373-2-11 Code civil

The statutory criteria checklist that the juge aux affaires familiales (JAF) applies when ruling on the modalities of autorité parentale — residence, contact, and decision-making allocation. Article 373-2-11 codifies the six factors the JAF takes particular care to consider (prend notamment en considération) in fixing the arrangements. The provision is the French structural parallel to: - Austria ABGB § 138 Kindeswohl-Checklist - UK Children Act 1989 s. 1(3) welfare checklist - Ireland Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 Part V welfare checklist

Article 373-2-11 is doctrinally distinctive among the welfare-checklist provisions because two of its enumerated factors — items 4 (results of expert assessments, particularly on the age of the child) and 5 (information gathered on possible pressions ou violences exercised on the child or the other parent) — are expressly relevant to PA-pattern analysis. The French framework codifies the pressions (pressures) concept that other jurisdictions treat only as implicit considerations.

Verbatim text (current consolidated)

Article 373-2-11 du Code civil — Critères du JAF

Lorsqu'il se prononce sur les modalités d'exercice de l'autorité parentale, le juge prend notamment en considération :

1° La pratique que les parents avaient précédemment suivie ou les accords qu'ils avaient pu antérieurement conclure ;

2° Les sentiments exprimés par l'enfant mineur dans les conditions prévues à l'article 388-1 ;

3° L'aptitude de chacun des parents à assumer ses devoirs et respecter les droits de l'autre ;

4° Le résultat des expertises éventuellement effectuées, tenant compte notamment de l'âge de l'enfant ;

5° Les renseignements qui ont été recueillis dans les éventuelles enquêtes et contre-enquêtes sociales prévues à l'article 373-2-12 ;

6° Les pressions ou violences, à caractère physique ou psychologique, exercées par l'un des parents sur la personne de l'autre.

English working translation

Article 373-2-11 Code civil — JAF criteria

When ruling on the modalities of the exercise of parental authority, the judge takes into particular consideration:

1° The practice the parents had previously followed or the agreements they had been able to conclude previously;

2° The sentiments expressed by the minor child under the conditions provided for in article 388-1;

3° The aptitude of each parent to assume his/her duties and to respect the rights of the other;

4° The results of expert assessments that may have been carried out, taking into account in particular the age of the child;

5° The information gathered in any social investigations and counter-investigations provided for in article 373-2-12;

6° The pressures or violence, of a physical or psychological nature, exercised by one of the parents upon the person of the other.

Why this matters for PA

  • Statutory checklist + welfare paramountcy. Article 373-2-11 operates alongside article 373-2-6 (general welfare framework) and article 373-2-9 (residence framework). The checklist is not exhaustive (notamment — particularly) but the six enumerated factors are the structural anchors the JAF must address in reasoning.
  • Factor 3 — aptitude à respecter les droits de l'autre. L'aptitude de chacun des parents à assumer ses devoirs et respecter les droits de l'autre. The aptitude of each parent to assume duties and respect the rights of the other parent. This is the French doctrinal foundation of the parent coopératif (cooperative parent) principle — the JAF expressly assesses each parent's willingness to facilitate the other parent's exercise of autorité parentale. Sustained alienating conduct directly engages factor 3.
  • Factor 5 — enquêtes sociales. Les renseignements qui ont été recueillis dans les éventuelles enquêtes et contre-enquêtes sociales. Information gathered in enquêtes sociales (social investigations) — the multidisciplinary welfare-assessment framework analogous to the German Familiengerichtshilfe and the Austrian Familiengerichtshilfe. In PA-pattern cases the enquête sociale is the principal evidential vehicle for establishing the conduct pattern.
  • Factor 6 — pressions ou violences psychologiques. Les pressions ou violences, à caractère physique ou psychologique, exercées par l'un des parents sur la personne de l'autre. Pressures or violence, physical or psychological, exercised by one parent on the person of the other. This is the doctrinally distinctive French provision: the express codification of psychological pressures as a JAF criterion. Psychological pressure on the targeted parent is direct welfare-relevant evidence under factor 6 — the contrôle coercitif (coercive control) framework French jurisprudence has developed maps onto this factor.
  • Factor 2 — sentiments de l'enfant + art. 388-1. Les sentiments exprimés par l'enfant mineur dans les conditions prévues à l'article 388-1. The expressed view of the minor child, taken under the article 388-1 audition framework. Factor 2 codifies the structural channel for the child's voice — but the cross-reference to art. 388-1 means the assessment is bounded by the discernement (discernment) standard of that provision, not a fixed age threshold.
  • Factor 4 — expertises. Le résultat des expertises éventuellement effectuées, tenant compte notamment de l'âge de l'enfant. Expert assessments, particularly with regard to the âge de l'enfant. In PA cases this is the structural channel for child-and-family-systems expert evidence — Cassation has confirmed that the JAF must reason with reference to the expertise findings where relied upon.
  • Factor 1 — pratique antérieure + accords. La pratique que les parents avaient précédemment suivie ou les accords qu'ils avaient pu antérieurement conclure. Past parenting practice and prior agreements. This is doctrinally important in PA-pattern cases because it provides the structural anchor for documenting departure from a previously functional arrangement — sustained alienation often manifests as departure from an established practice.

Procedural application

  • Article 373-2-11 operates as the structural framework for JAF reasoning on residence/contact modalities
  • The order must address the relevant factors with reasoning specific to the case
  • The enquête sociale under art. 373-2-12 provides the principal evidential foundation
  • The audition of the child under art. 388-1 feeds into factor 2
  • Cour de cassation has held that the JAF's failure to address the relevant factors is reversible error — see Cass civ 1ère 22 mars 2023

Use in alienating-conduct cases

  • Factors 3 + 6 together provide the structural foundation for PA-pattern analysis under French law
  • Factor 3 (aptitude à respecter les droits de l'autre) is engaged where sustained alienating conduct demonstrates inability or unwillingness to facilitate the other parent's exercise of autorité parentale
  • Factor 6 (pressions psychologiques) is engaged where the alienating parent's conduct toward the targeted parent constitutes psychological pressure or coercion
  • The interaction with art. 373-2-1 alinéa 5 (transferable residence) means the JAF can use the factor 3 finding as the welfare-protective foundation for residence reallocation
  • Where factor 6 findings establish coercive control, the JAF can decline shared residence even where it would otherwise be the welfare-preferred arrangement (loi 2024 reform)

Cross-reference

Sources & authoritative references

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