Samenvatting

The article deals with so-called ‘koude uitsluiting’ (‘cold exclusion’), a certain type of matrimonial property contract, in which spouses diverge from the standard matrimonial system of community of all property, without any other compensating provisions. Cohabitants who do not have a cohabitation agreement, are in a similar situation. After a divorce or a separation especially many women with children encounter serious financial problems, while the former spouse often experiences an improvement of his financial situation. The article is based on an empirical and (partly comparative) legal study, which proposes new legislation to overcome the most unjust effects of ‘koude uitsluiting’. The author gives a short overview of these proposals.