Analysis of Legal Conundrums in Division of Co-owned Real Property Following Divorce in Tanzania
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Date
2024-03
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Law Reform Commission of Tanzania
Abstract
Ownership of real property among spouses is regulated by the Constitution, land, and marriage laws. The Constitution guarantees the right to own property, while the Land Act specifies conditions permitting spouses to co-own land. The Law of Marriage Act (LMA) unifies and harmonizes existing multiple regimes of marriage and recognizes all forms of marriage. However, the LMA is silent, and its provisions have notable challenges and or are irrelevant in the distribution of co-owned real property upon divorce in monogamous and polygamous marriages. Likewise, there is a legal conundrum attached to provisions of the LMA, the Land Act, and the Land Registration Act. This Article analyses these challenges and concludes that the LMA has not been aligned with property laws. In this regard, it is irrelevant in the distribution of co-owned real property between spouses at the time of divorce. The Article recommends the amendment of the LMA and its rules to accommodate the division of co-owned real property during divorce.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDGs 16, 5, 1
Keywords
Co-ownership of land, divorce, division of real matrimonial property, Tanzania