China's draft law better defines couple's joint debts

BEIJING -- A new draft of the marriage and family section of the civil code was submitted on June 25 to the ongoing bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee for a second reading.

The draft section, after referring to related judicial explanation of the Supreme's People's Court, clarifies issues concerning a couple's joint debts.

During marriage, debts jointly contracted by a husband and wife, contracted by one spouse but ratified subsequently by the other, or paid by either spouse for family necessities shall become joint debts, according to the draft.

Debts incurred by one spouse for use beyond the scope of family necessities are not considered joint debts, unless the creditor can prove the debt has been used for family or business jointly run by spouses or incurred with mutual consent, according to the draft.

The legislative session will run from June 25 to 29.