The effect on family law relations of the Act XXIX of 1946 on the legal status of a child born out of wedlock

Abstract

Before the Act XXIX of 1946 on the legal status of a child born out of wedlock, the family law status of ‘legitimate’ and ‘illegitimate’ children was different, they only had a kinship relationship with the mother, so the task of raising and supporting them largely fell on them. Establishing paternity, thus contributing to the maintenance of the child, was difficult from several points of view. The Act incorporated previous customary law norms into written law and introduced reforms based on the principle of equality, which provoked heated professional debates among legal scholars and practicing lawyers.