MAINTENANCE LAW AS AN EXAMPLE OF A LEGAL REGULATION PERTAINING TO INTERGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY

Abstract

The year 2012 was announced the Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations in Decision No 940 2011 EU of the European Parliament and the European Council. The paper features the issue of Polish maintenance law which is an example of a legal regulation of the solidarity between generations. Basically, the support given and received by family members has very strong moral roots. The legal regulation provides for minimal protection only, which may be executed using the power of the state. The solidarity between generations, effected by the provision of the means for living, is very obvious in the relations between parents and children, especially when the beneficiary is an underage child (a minor). However, the right to claim maintenance is also guaranteed by law to parents (and grandparents). When an elderly person is not able to support herself or himself, the law gives them an opportunity to turn to descendents for help. It should be emphasised that this aspect of maintenance which has, so far, been a very rare subject of analyses, is gradually becoming more important from the perspective of the existing demographic problems and the process of ageing in our society.