Eheliche Lebensverhältnisse“ und „Angemessene Erwerbstätigkeit“: Die Angemessenheitsklausel des neuen Scheidungsrechts als Problem soziologischer Hilfeleistung für die Rechtsprechungspraxis

In 1978, family law in the Federal Republic of Germany was changed especially with regard to regulations on divorce. Most important among the new provisions were stipulations relating to the alimentation of divorcees by their former spouse and to gainful employment after divorce. Since the law includes several ambigious definitions, there is considerable uncertainty about its interpretation and application. It is a thesis of this article that social science can contribute to the specification of diffuse concepts such as "adequate gainful employment". At the same time, the autors admit to limitations of sociological assistance to legal interpretation.