Renvoi Principle

Renvoi Principle

When two or more sets of laws are at conflict with each other, the Court can use the
rules of a different country. This is called the "Doctrine of Renvoi." This concept is
meant to stop people from "forum shopping," which means that the same law is used
to get the same result no matter where the case is heard.

“Renvoi” originates from the French “send back” or “return unopened”. The
"Convention of Renvoi" is the process by which the Court accepts the rules of a
foreign law in any case of law disagreement.

Types of Renvoi

There are 2 types of renvoi

1. Single renvoi

Single renvoi typically refers to a situation where the law of the first jurisdiction refers
the court to the law of the second jurisdiction, and the second jurisdiction's choice of
law rules do not refer back to the first jurisdiction.

In this case, the court usually applies the substantive law of the second jurisdiction
without considering its choice of law rules. It's a one-step reference without a circular
element.

একক রেনভোই সাধারণত এমন একটি পরিস্থিতিকে বোঝায় যেখানে প্রথম এখতিয়ারের আইন
আদালতকে দ্বিতীয় এখতিয়ারের আইনে উল্লেখ করে এবং দ্বিতীয় এখতিয়ারের পছন্দের আইনের
নিয়মগুলি প্রথম এখতিয়ারের দিকে ফিরে আসে না। এই ক্ষেত্রে, আদালত সাধারণত আইনের নিয়মের
পছন্দ বিবেচনা না করে দ্বিতীয় এখতিয়ারের মূল আইন প্রয়োগ করে। এটি একটি বৃত্তাকার উপাদান
ছাড়াই একটি এক-ধাপে রেফারেন্স।

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In re Ross

Facts

The testatrix (the person who writes the will) was a British national, who was
domiciled in Italy and had written a will leaving the land in Italy and the movables
both in Italy and England. Where the will was valid in England but not in Italy
because she had not left half of her property to her son.

Judgment

Where the Court had applied the law regarding where the property is situated. The
movables in Italy because the testatrix (the person who writes the will) holds the
Italian domicile. As a result, the Judge had applied the Italian law with respect to the
immovable property situated in Italy. As Italy did not accept the renvoi based issue
was decided in accordance with English law.

2. Double renvoi

Double renvoi often involves a circular reference. This occurs when the law of the
first jurisdiction refers the court to the law of the second jurisdiction, and the second
jurisdiction's choice of law rules, in turn, refer back to the first jurisdiction.

In a double renvoi scenario, the court may need to decide whether to follow the full
circular reference or to limit the renvoi by not considering the second jurisdiction's
choice of law rules.

ডাবল রেনভোই প্রায়ই একটি বৃত্তাকার রেফারেন্স জড়িত। এটি ঘটে যখন প্রথম এখতিয়ারের আইন
আদালতকে দ্বিতীয় এখতিয়ারের আইনে উল্লেখ করে, এবং দ্বিতীয় এখতিয়ারের পছন্দের আইনের
নিয়মগুলি, পালাক্রমে, প্রথম এখতিয়ারে ফেরত পাঠায়। একটি দ্বৈত রেনভোই পরিস্থিতিতে,
আদালতকে সম্পূর্ণ সার্কু লার রেফারেন্স অনুসরণ করতে হবে কিনা বা দ্বিতীয় এখতিয়ারের পছন্দের
আইনের নিয়মগুলি বিবেচনা না করে রেনভোই সীমাবদ্ধ করতে হবে কিনা তা সিদ্ধান্ত নিতে হতে পারে।

Re Annesley Case

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Facts

An English woman was domiciled in France for 58 years at the time of her death.
According to the principles of English law, she was domiciled in England. Before her
death, she made a will, where the will was valid as per the English law, but it was not
valid as per the French law because she did not leave 2/3rd of her estate to the
children. According to the French law 2/3rd of the property goes to their heirs. Where
the France Court did not issue any authorization certificate that she was a French
domicile which was necessary for the acquisition of domicile.

Judgment

The Court said that it had applied the French law as she was holding the French
domicile at the time of her death. Based on that, the English Courts refer the matter to
the French law as the law of domicile and the French law also referred the same back
to England as single renvoi is recognized in France. Therefore, the French Court
would accept the Remission and have applied the Internal law.

No renvoi

There can also be a form of renvoi which is known as no renvoi. This type of renvoi is
followed by countries such as France, Belgium, and the United States.

Advantages of the doctrine

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1. The renvoi ensures the enforcement of judgments.

2. The presence of second-degree renvoi can coordinate law systems if one does not
acknowledge it.

3. Renvoi advocates and opponents

4. It promotes the reasonable expectation of the parties.

5. In circumstances where English choice of law rules prioritize effectiveness, in

which the lex situs is applied, renvoi provides some consistency in the judgment and
controlling law.

Disadvantages of the doctrine

1. The renvoi may lead to a continuously loop of new cases of renvoi (an inextricable
circle.

2. The admission of the renvoi generates uncertainty regarding the legal solution.

3. The renvoi is unacceptable because it raises private international law uncertainty

and is an exception to foreign law.