Objective

The objective of the research is to study the dissolution processes of marital relationships, in accordance with the regulatory laws on the matter.

It studies both the socio-demographic characteristics of the spouses affected, and other aspects of the rulings passed.

Compilation

Until 31 December 2006, the information was collected quarterly, via paper-based questionnaires that were completed by judicial bodies (Courts of First Instance, Courts of First Instance and Trial, Courts for Violence Against Women, Trial Courts with jurisdiction on matters of gender violence) for each ruling passed.

Since 1 January 2007, and based on the Agreement signed with the General Council of the Judiciary Branch in September 2006, the ongoing collection of information has been implemented by means of an electronic questionnaire (online), which is completed by the legal bodies through an access provided for said purpose in the internal network of the GCJB.

This change in the information collection system allows for an improvement in the quality of the data, and in statistical opportunity. This improvement is conditioned by the lack of coverage detected, on not registering all of the sentences on annulments, separations and divorces that take place during the reference year.

Said lack of coverage is solved by the application of some correction factors on a provincial level. To this end, the INE, with the information supplied by a sample of courts, estimates the percentage of the sentences over the total matters resolved in the area provided by the General Council of the Judiciary Branch (GCJB). The correction coefficients are obtained as the quotient between the number of sentences estimated and the number of online questionnaires obtained by the INE.

In turn, we have proceeded to apply the DIA program for the filtering and imputation of the recording file.

Content

Different aspects are studied of the rulings passed on annulments, separations and divorces. It studies both data referring to the process and data referring to the affected spouses.

The former includes, for example, the date of the petition, the date of the ruling, the applicant, the existence of prior legal separation, and the ruling. Regarding the ruling, it specifies the type of ruling, as well as who must pay, as may be the case, the compensatory allowance and maintenance and support. In addition, information is obtained regarding the custody of underage children or dependants.

In terms of the information on the affected spouses, it studies the date of the marriage, the marital status at the time of the marriage, the number of underage children and/or dependent adult children, as well as the date of birth, sex and nationality.

Dissemination

National, Autonomous Community and provincial results are published annually on the INE website.

The results are published in the month of September of the year following the reference year.