Intra-Branch Method of Codifying Private International Law (Case of Latin American States)

The codification of legislation on Private International Law (PIL) is a process representing the structural and substantive ordering of legal rules to systematize and optimize the regulation of private law relations that have a legally significant connection with the legal order of two or more countries. It is advisable to designate the following methods of codification of PIL. Intra-branch codification — the act of general codification of civil law includes a special section that regulates most of the institutes of PIL. Within the framework of this method, two main forms of its result can be distinguished: a) a simple intra-branch form where the regulation of the general part of PIL and the rules for choosing the applicable law is allocated in a separate section of the Civil Code. The rules of International Civil Procedure (ICP) are fixed in the acts of codification of civil procedure law; b) a complex intra-branch form where the act of codification of civil law includes the institutions of the general part of PIL, conflict-of-laws rules and rules of ICP (jurisdictional and procedural rules). Inter-branch codification — the act of general codification of civil law includes a special section containing the main rules and institutions of PIL. Separate institutions of the Special part of PIL are included as independent sections in the acts of special branch codifications. Autonomous branch codification — the adoption of a special law codifying the general provisions and conflict-of-laws rules of PIL. Complex autonomous codification (full-scale codification of PIL/ICP) — the adoption of a separate law or code containing both the fundamental principles and conflict-of-laws rules of PIL and the main rules of ICP. The modern legislator demonstrates all the variety of forms and ways of codifying PIL, while it is interesting to see what preferences are shown by certain countries. The legislation of Latin American countries is chosen for the analysis, since from the middle of the 19th century to the present time, the processes of codification of PIL are extremely active there. According to the results of the study, it is concluded that the majority of Latin American countries choose the path of intra-branch codification of PIL (its simple or complex form). This method of codification is not free from drawbacks; the best option is a complex autonomous codification, which has a three-part structure: (1) international jurisdiction, (2) applicable law, (3) recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. In writing this study, the authors used the methods of formal logic, comparative law, and the historical method.

codification, private international law, Latin America, intra-branch method, civil code, autonomous law, International Civil Procedure