The Legal Position of Minor in the Light of the West Galician Code

Abstract

The West Galician Code (Ustawy Cywilne dla Galicyi Zachodniey) was a codification of law created under rule of Franz Joseph I and it was in force on the whole area of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth which had earlier became part of the Habsburg Monarchy. The code dealt with every aspect of civil relations, including parental, to which chapter IV was devoted. According to the act, the main role in the process of child-upbringing was given to a father whose parental responsibility for offspring remained crucial. However, the child was able to act against his/her parents’ will if the court granted him/her the permission. The issue of parental responsibility and status of illegitimate children also gained complex regulation. In that matter, the most important of father’s duties was providing financial support for the offspring. The regulations included in the above-mentioned code cannot be seen as revolutionary but need to be considered as a result of the evolution of law that occurred during the modern age. Some state’s interference with parental authority was, however, a sign of upcoming great European codification movement of the 19^th century.