我國離婚贍養費制度之法實證研究

Abstract

本研究探討我國贍養費制度的現行規範與適用情形，分析其法規框架、實務運作情形及可能的修法趨勢。離婚後婦女往往因經濟問題面臨重大困境，特別是因婚姻影響就業能力者，其獨立生活的挑戰尤為嚴峻，因此贍養費制度具有重要性。然而，我國現行法規定請求贍養費須以「判決離婚」為要件，且多以「未陷入生活困難」作為駁回理由，導致多數案件難以請求贍養費，限制制度的適用範圍，恐影響實際需求者的權益。 本研究蒐集並分析102年至113年間21個地方法院共106則贍養費相關判決（類型1：請求法院判給贍養費共88則、類型2：直接請求依照離婚協議給付共18則），以法實證研究之方式，透過敘述性統計、卡方檢定與邏輯式迴歸探討影響法院判決之因素。結果顯示，「是否有健康問題」、「就業能力之有無」與「月收入有無」為法院判給贍養費的顯著影響因素，而年齡、教育程度、職業分類、月收入等級、雙方財產狀況、子女情況與婚姻存續期與是否判給贍養費皆無顯著關聯。此外，法院在裁量贍養費金額時雖具有彈性，惟缺乏明確標準，導致判決結果存在差異性，影響公平性與可預測性。 基於研究結果，本研究認為應刪除「判決離婚」作為請求贍養費的前提，並明確規範「陷入生活困難」的審查標準，以確保制度更具靈活性與公平性。此外，應兼顧贍養費的「扶養」與「補償」雙重功能，將婚姻存續期間、家庭分工情形及未成年子女照顧責任納入考量，並建立合理的酌減金額標準，以提升制度的適用性與可預測性。 透過上述修法方向，贍養費制度將更能有效保障離婚後弱勢配偶的經濟需求，同時維護請求義務人的權益，達成制度應有之目的。

This study explores the current regulations and practical application of Taiwan’s spousal support (alimony) system, analyzing its legal framework, judicial practices, and potential legislative trends. Women often face significant financial difficulties after divorce, especially those whose employment capabilities have been affected by marriage, making independent living particularly challenging. Therefore, the alimony system plays a crucial role. However, Taiwan’s current law requires that alimony claims be based on a " judicial divorce " and frequently rejects claims on the grounds that the petitioner has not "fallen into financial hardship," limiting the scope of the system's application and potentially undermining the rights of those in genuine need. This study collected and analyzed 106 alimony-related court rulings from 21 district courts between 2013 and 2024 (88 cases of court-ordered alimony requests and 18 cases of alimony claims based on divorce agreements). Using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression, this research examined the factors influencing court decisions. The findings indicate that "health issues," "employment capability," and "monthly income" are significant factors in court rulings on alimony awards, while factors such as age, education level, occupational classification, income level, financial status, child-related responsibilities, and marriage duration showed no significant correlation with alimony rulings. Furthermore, while courts exercise flexibility in determining alimony amounts, the lack of clear standards leads to inconsistent rulings, affecting fairness and predictability. Based on these findings, this study suggests removing the "judicial divorce" requirement for alimony claims and establishing clear criteria for assessing "financial hardship" to enhance the system's flexibility and fairness. Additionally, alimony should balance its dual functions of "support" and "compensation" by considering factors such as marriage duration, household labor division, and child-rearing responsibilities. Furthermore, a standardized method for adjusting alimony amounts should be developed to improve consistency and predictability. By implementing these legislative changes, the alimony system would better protect the financial well-being of economically disadvantaged spouses post-divorce while safeguarding the rights of the obligated party, ultimately achieving its intended purpose.