UWIRAGIYE v UWAMAHORO

UWIRAGIYE v UWAMAHORO

Property acquired by parties living together as husband and wife, even without legal marriage, must be divided equally upon separation, including vehicles acquired during cohabitation, regardless of whose name appears on purchase documents or employment-related acquisition. Claims for damages or legal costs must be...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
RS/INJUST/RC 00010/2017/SC
Parties
Appellant: Uwiragiye Charles; Respondent: Uwamahoro Jeannine
Court
Supreme Court
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Judgment Date
12 January 2018
Case Number
RS/INJUST/RC 00010/2017/SC
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Supreme Court Final Judgment
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Cohabitation, Division of Property, Unmarried Couples, Compensation for Legal Costs
Source Language
rw
Family Law Property Law Cohabitation Division of Property Unmarried Couples Compensation for Legal Costs

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Parties

Uwiragiye Charles

Appellant

Uwamahoro Jeannine

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Supreme Court Final Judgment

  1. 1 Whether property acquired during cohabitation without legal marriage should be divided equally upon separation
  2. 2 Whether a vehicle received for employment during cohabitation is subject to division
  3. 3 Whether compensation for legal costs and damages is warranted

Ratio Decidendi

Property acquired by parties living together as husband and wife, even without legal marriage, must be divided equally upon separation, including vehicles acquired during cohabitation, regardless of whose name appears on purchase documents or employment-related acquisition. Claims for damages or legal costs must be substantiated, and the court has discretion to determine reasonable compensation.

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The appeal by Uwiragiye Charles is dismissed as unfounded.
  • The judgment of the High Court (RCA 00239/2016/HC/KIG) is upheld.