Top court seeks public comment on betrothal gifts interpretation

A draft judicial interpretation concerning betrothal gifts will be released for public comment, China's top court said on Monday.

The interpretation will prohibit asking for money or other possessions in the name of betrothal gifts, clarify the scope of betrothal gifts and specify the circumstances in which they should be returned, Chen Yifang, a judge from the Supreme People's Court, said.

Betrothal gifts — also known as the bride price — are a traditional marriage custom in which the groom's family offer the bride's family an amount of money as a symbol of respect.

It originated as a way of expressing good wishes for newlyweds, but Chen said that in recent years "it has developed into a face-saving activity that can place a big financial burden on families".

The chief judge of the top court's No 1 Civil Adjudication Tribunal said Chinese courts had seen a rapidly growing number of lawsuits related to betrothal gifts over the past few years, and some even ended up as criminal cases.

"The high cost of betrothal gifts not only harms marital relationships, but also easily triggers conflicts between two families, thus affecting social stability," she said.

To alleviate social conflicts and respond to public concerns, the top court formulated the interpretation and decided to solicit suggestions on it from all walks of life, Chen said.