The Effect of Husband’s Insolvency on Wife’s Right of Lien in Comparative Jurisprudence

The jurists of Islamic Denominations, while recognizing the right of lien for the wife in marriage, believe that the husband's ability to pay the marriage portion does not affect it. The Iranian legal system, following the well-known opinion of Imami jurisprudence in Article 1085 of the Civil Code, has recognized this right for the wife. Also, the Supreme Court in its decision of unity of procedure No. 708 dated August 12, 2008 considering the application of Article 1085 of the Civil Code and the well-known opinions of jurists, has not considered the husband’s insolvency in paying the marriage portion and apportionment of the marriage portion by the court as an obstacle to the wife’s right of lien. Therefore, the wife can refuse to obey until the last section of the dowry is paid, citing the right of lien. The following article uses a descriptive-analytical method to examine the difference between the concept of lien in a marriage contract with other reciprocal contracts and analyze the views of  Imami and Sunni jurisprudence regarding the reciprocal or quasi-reciprocal nature of marriage, to determine whether the right of lien is exercised completely and similar to other reciprocal contracts, it is difficult to enter into a marriage, and it seems that in cases such as the  insolvency of couple’s marriage portion or the marriage portion payment installment sentence, it can be considered to be abrogated by invoking jurisprudential rules such as the rule of i‘sar and la dharar.