{ "id": "nexus-sen-1-0034-1184195", "citation": "Res. 01008-2023 Tribunal de Familia", "section": "nexus_decisions", "doc_type": "court_decision", "title_es": "Nulidad de sentencia por incongruencia citra petita en desafectación de habitación familiar", "title_en": "Annulment of judgment for citra petita incongruence in family housing de-affectation", "summary_es": "El Tribunal de Familia anula la sentencia de primera instancia por ser incongruente en su modalidad de citra petita, ya que el juez resolvió sobre una base fáctica y jurídica diferente a la planteada en la demanda. El actor solicitó la cesación de la afectación a habitación familiar bajo el artículo 47 inciso d) del Código de Familia, argumentando que el bien ya no servía como habitación familiar al haber cesado la convivencia con la beneficiaria. Sin embargo, el juez denegó la demanda bajo el inciso ch) del mismo artículo, correspondiente a un trámite no contencioso para autorizar la venta o gravamen del inmueble, lo que desnaturalizó la pretensión. El Tribunal reitera el concepto y finalidad del instituto de habitación familiar, sus formas de cesación, y ordena al juez de primera instancia dictar nueva sentencia en el plazo de diez días, respetando el derecho a una justicia pronta.", "summary_en": "The Family Court annuls the first-instance judgment for being incongruent in its citra petita modality, since the judge resolved on a factual and legal basis different from that alleged in the complaint. The plaintiff requested the cessation of the family housing encumbrance under Article 47(d) of the Family Code, arguing that the property no longer served as a family home since cohabitation with the beneficiary had ended. However, the judge dismissed the complaint under subsection (ch) of the same article, corresponding to a non-contentious proceeding to authorize the sale or encumbrance of the property, which distorted the claim. The Court reiterates the concept and purpose of the family housing institution, its forms of termination, and orders the lower court to issue a new judgment within ten days, respecting the right to a speedy trial.", "court_or_agency": "Tribunal de Familia", "date": "22/09/2023", "year": "2023", "topic_ids": [ "_off-topic" ], "primary_topic_id": "_off-topic", "es_concept_hints": [ "citra petita", "habitación familiar", "desafectación", "incongruencia", "proceso sumario", "a-quo", "Código de Familia" ], "article_citations": [], "keywords_es": [ "nulidad sentencia", "incongruencia citra petita", "desafectación habitación familiar", "artículo 47 Código de Familia", "proceso sumario", "tribunal de familia" ], "keywords_en": [ "annulment of judgment", "citra petita incongruence", "de-affectation family housing", "Article 47 Family Code", "summary proceeding", "family court" ], "excerpt_es": "En este caso, la sentencia dictada por el Juez de Familia del II Circuito Judicial de la Zona Atlántica debe ser anulada por ser incongruente, en su variable de citra petita, pues la decisión se adoptó sobre una base fáctica y jurídica diferente a la peticionada. (...) El Juez de primera instancia no hizo lugar a la demanda que presentó el señor [Nombre 001] en contra de la señora [Nombre 002], pero la motivación consignada en la sentencia refleja una confusión del Juzgador, no solo en el ámbito del derecho sustantivo sino también en el del derecho adjetivo. (...) Este, y no otro, es el conflicto jurídico que debía resolver el Juez, pero como antes se indicó, lo abordó desde una perspectiva fáctica y jurídica muy distinta a la solicitada. Por esta razón, la sentencia resulta incongruente y, por ende, no queda otra alternativa más que decretar su nulidad, ya que si el Tribunal hiciera ese análisis en este momento, lo estaría haciendo en única instancia.", "excerpt_en": "In this case, the judgment issued by the Family Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit of the Atlantic Zone must be annulled for being incongruent, in its citra petita variant, since the decision was adopted on a factual and legal basis different from that requested. (...) The judge of first instance did not grant the complaint filed by Mr. [Nombre 001] against Mrs. [Nombre 002], but the reasoning set out in the judgment reflects a confusion on the part of the Judge, not only in the area of substantive law but also in procedural law. (...) This, and no other, is the legal conflict that the Judge had to resolve, but as previously indicated, he approached it from a factual and legal perspective very different from that requested. For this reason, the judgment is incongruent and, therefore, there is no alternative but to declare its nullity, since if the Court were to conduct that analysis at this time, it would be doing so in a single instance.", "outcome": { "label_en": "Annulment decreed", "label_es": "Nulidad decretada", "summary_en": "The Family Court annuls the first-instance judgment and orders the lower court to issue a new judgment within ten days.", "summary_es": "El Tribunal de Familia anula la sentencia de primera instancia y ordena al juez a-quo dictar nueva sentencia en diez días." }, "pull_quotes": [ { "context": "Considerando I", "quote_en": "the annulment of a judgment should only be decreed when a violation of due process and/or the right of defense has occurred and it is not possible to remedy the defect without prejudicing the other procedural acts.", "quote_es": "la nulidad de una sentencia solo se debe decretar cuando se ha producido una lesión al debido proceso y/o al derecho de defensa y no es posible subsanar el vicio sin perjudicar los demás actos del proceso." }, { "context": "Considerando II", "quote_en": "The legal institution of the encumbrance of real property under the family housing regime consists of a person who is the owner of such a property (...) committing not to transfer it nor to impose encumbrances on it because it will be inhabited by their spouse or cohabitant, their minor children (...) or by another member of the family group...", "quote_es": "El instituto jurídico de la afectación de un bien inmueble al régimen de habitación familiar consiste en que una persona que es propietaria de un bien de esta naturaleza (...) se compromete a no traspasarlo y a no imponerle gravámenes porque este será habitado por su cónyuge o conviviente, sus hijos o hijas menores de edad (...) o por algún otro miembro del grupo familiar..." }, { "context": "Considerando II", "quote_en": "when the property has ceased to serve as a family home (...) through SUMMARY PROCEEDING, that is, through a contentious process.", "quote_es": "cuando el bien ha dejado de servir para habitación familiar (...) mediante TRÁMITE SUMARIO, es decir, mediante un proceso contencioso." } ], "cites": [ { "id": "norm-10806", "citation": "Ley 7142", "title_en": "Law for the Promotion of Women's Social Equality", "title_es": "Ley de Promoción de la Igualdad Social de la Mujer", "doc_type": "law", "date": "08/03/1990", "year": "1990" }, { "id": "norm-12391", "citation": "Ley 7052", "title_en": "National Financial System for Housing Law", "title_es": "Ley del Sistema Financiero Nacional para la Vivienda", "doc_type": "law", "date": "13/11/1986", "year": "1986" }, { "id": "norm-12443", "citation": "Ley 7130", "title_en": "Code of Civil Procedure", "title_es": "Código Procesal Civil", "doc_type": "law", "date": "16/08/1989", "year": "1989" }, { "id": "norm-970", "citation": "Ley 5476", "title_en": "Family Code", "title_es": "Código de Familia", "doc_type": "law", "date": "21/12/1973", "year": "1973" } ], "cited_by": [ { "id": "norm-10806", "citation": "Ley 7142", "title_en": "Law for the Promotion of Women's Social Equality", "title_es": "Ley de Promoción de la Igualdad Social de la Mujer", "doc_type": "law", "date": "08/03/1990", "year": "1990" }, { "id": "norm-12391", "citation": "Ley 7052", "title_en": "National Financial System for Housing Law", "title_es": "Ley del Sistema Financiero Nacional para la Vivienda", "doc_type": "law", "date": "13/11/1986", "year": "1986" }, { "id": "norm-12443", "citation": "Ley 7130", "title_en": "Code of Civil Procedure", "title_es": "Código Procesal Civil", "doc_type": "law", "date": "16/08/1989", "year": "1989" }, { "id": "norm-970", "citation": "Ley 5476", "title_en": "Family Code", "title_es": "Código de Familia", "doc_type": "law", "date": "21/12/1973", "year": "1973" } ], "references": { "internal": [], "external": [] }, "source_url": "https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/sen-1-0034-1184195", "tier": 2, "is_environmental": false, "_editorial_citation_count": 0, "regulations_by_article": null, "amendments_by_article": null, "dictamen_by_article": null, "concordancias_by_article": null, "afectaciones_by_article": null, "resoluciones_by_article": null, "cited_by_votos": [], "cited_norms": [], "cited_norms_inverted": [ { "doc_id": "norm-10806", "norm_num": "7142", "norm_name": "Ley de Promoción de la Igualdad Social de la Mujer", "tipo_norma": "Ley", "norm_fecha": "08/03/1990" }, { "doc_id": "norm-12391", "norm_num": "7052", "norm_name": "Ley del Sistema Financiero Nacional para la Vivienda", "tipo_norma": "Ley", "norm_fecha": "13/11/1986" }, { "doc_id": "norm-12443", "norm_num": "7130", "norm_name": "Código Procesal Civil", "tipo_norma": "Ley", "norm_fecha": "16/08/1989" }, { "doc_id": "norm-970", "norm_num": "5476", "norm_name": "Código de Familia", "tipo_norma": "Ley", "norm_fecha": "21/12/1973" } ], "sentencias_relacionadas": [], "temas_y_subtemas": [], "cascade_only": false, "amendment_count": 0, "body_es_text": "EV Generación de Machote: E:\\Gestion-Judicial\\servidor de archivos\\MODELOS\\FAMILIA\\TFRESOL022.dpj\n\r\n\n\r\n\n\r\n\n????????????????\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\nEXPEDIENTE:\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n22-000053-1307-FA - 9 INTERNO 718-23(3) EV\n\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\n PROCESO:\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\nSumarios\n\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\nACTOR/A:\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n[Nombre 001]\n\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\nDEMANDADO/A:\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n[Nombre 002]\n\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\n \n\r\n\nVOTO NÚMERO N° 2023001008\n\r\n\nTRIBUNAL DE FAMILIA, SECCIÓN PRIMERA. San José, a las siete horas cincuenta y seis minutos del veintidós de setiembre de dos mil veintitrés.- \n\r\n\n PROCESO SUMARIO DE DESAFECTACIÓN DE INMUEBLE SOMETIDO A HABITACIÓN FAMILIAR establecido por [Nombre 001], mayor, casado dos veces, peón agrícola, portador de la cédula de identidad número [Nombre 003], vecino Cariari, Pococí, en contra de [Nombre 002], mayor, soltera, ama de casa, de nacionalidad nicaragüense, portadora de la cédula de residencia número [Valor 001], vecina de Pococí. Como apoderado especial judicial de la parte actora figura el abogado Randall Eduardo Ramírez Vargas, y la parte demandada cuenta con el patrocino de la abogada Katerin Andrea Vargas Leal.\n\r\n\nRESULTANDO\n\r\n\nI. Con base en los hechos que expuso y el fundamento jurídico que consignó en la demanda, el señor el [Nombre 001] solicitó que en sentencia se acoja por el Juez la cesación de la afectación Habitación Familiar de acuerdo al Código de Familia artículo 47 inc d, ya que el fin de la afectación habitación familiar, actualmente no procede ya dejó de servir sobre mi propiedad indicada en autos. Además solicitó que se le ordene al Registro Público de la Propiedad la cancelación de la afectación habitación familiar, inscrita bajo las citas al tomo [...] y se condene a la demandada al pago de las costas.\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\nII. La señora [Nombre 002] contestó la demanda en los términos expuestos en el escrito correspondiente. No opuso excepciones.\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\nIII. Mediante sentencia pronunciada a las catorce horas treinta y nueve minutos del veintiuno de diciembre de dos mil veintitrés, el Juez José Olger Valverde Leitón, Juez de Familia del II Circuito Judicial de la Zona Atlántica, dispuso: \"POR TANTO: Se declara sin lugar la demanda sumaria de desafectación de patrimonio familiar que fue instada por el señor [Nombre 001] en contra de la señora [Nombre 002]. Se condena al actor al pago de las costas personales y procesales originadas con motivo del proceso\"\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\nIV.Conoce esta Sección del Tribunal del presente asunto, por apelación que interpuso el apoderado especial judicial del señor [Nombre 001] en contra de la sentencia de primera instancia. \n\r\n\n \n\r\n\nV. En la tramitación del recurso se han observado las prescripciones legales. Esta sentencia se dicta dentro del plazo de Ley; y\n\r\n\nRedacta el Juez Chacón Jiménez; y\n\r\n\nCONSIDERANDO\n\r\n\nI. Por la indiscutible afectación que se produce a las partes y a la misma Administración de Justicia, la nulidad de una sentencia solo se debe decretar cuando se ha producido una lesión al debido proceso y/o al derecho de defensa y no es posible subsanar el vicio sin perjudicar los demás actos del proceso. En este caso, la sentencia dictada por el Juez de Familia del II Circuito Judicial de la Zona Atlántica debe ser anulada por ser incongruente, en su variable de citra petita, pues la decisión se adoptó sobre una base fáctica y jurídica diferente a la peticionada.\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\nII. El Juez de primera instancia no hizo lugar a la demanda que presentó el señor [Nombre 001] en contra de la señora [Nombre 002], pero la motivación consignada en la sentencia refleja una confusión del Juzgador, no solo en el ámbito del derecho sustantivo sino también en el del derecho adjetivo. \n\r\n\n El instituto jurídico de la afectación de un bien inmueble al régimen de habitación familiar consiste en que una persona que es propietaria de un bien de esta naturaleza que se encuentre ubicado en área urbana y con una medida inferior a los mil metros cuadados -o que esté ubicado en área rural y con una medida inferior a los diez mil metros cuadrados-, se compromete a no traspasarlo y a no imponerle gravámenes porque este será habitado por su cónyuge o conviviente, sus hijos o hijas menores de edad -o bien, mayores de edad que requieren alimentos-, o por algún otro miembro del grupo familiar, siempre y cuando esta persona habite el inmueble y presente alguna discapacidad por la cual requiere de apoyo permanente y generalizado, o se encuentre en la vejez. El Código también contempla la posibilidad de que el propietario de una parcela con una medida no mayor de diez mil metros la someta al régimen de habitación familiar a favor de una de las personas antes indicadas, cuando está destinada a una pequeña explotación para subsistencia de la familia. El sometimiento del inmueble al régimen de habitación familiar se realiza por medio de una escritura pública, la cual debe ser debidamente inscrita en la Sección de Propiedad del Registro Público. Una vez inscrita, el inmueble tampoco podrá ser perseguido por acreedores personales del propietario, con algunas salvedades. (Artículos 42 y 43 del Código de Familia)\n\r\n\n Como se observa, el sometimiento de un bien inmueble al régimen de habitación familiar es una forma de protección a la familia, pues, el compromiso unilateral de la persona propietaria del inmueble a no traspasar o a no imponer gravamen sobre el inmueble para que esta sea habitada por uno o varios miembros de su familia, también se ve recompensado por el hecho de que sus acreedores personales, con algunas excepciones, no pueden perseguir el inmueble para el pago de sus acreencias. La protección del Estado a favor de la familia contemplado en el artículo 51 de nuestra Constitución también se aprecia en la forma en que se realiza la afectación, pues contiene exenciones fiscales y lo único que se cancela son los honorarios del Notario o Notaria.\n\r\n\n También debe tenerse en consideración que existen situaciones en las que esta afectación no es exactamente voluntaria, sino que el propietario del inmueble puede ser conminado a realizarla. Esto sucede cuando se adquieren derechos creados bajo el Régimen Especial de Vivienda de Interés Social o se otorga una propiedad inmueble mediante programas de desarrollo social, caso en el cual no solo se debe someter el inmueble a este régimen de habitación familiar por un plazo mínimo de diez años (artículos 175 de la Ley 7052, Ley del Sistema Financiero Nacional para la Vivienda y Creación del BANHVI (Banco Hipotecario de la Vivienda) y 42 del Código de Familia), sino también que, en el caso de cónyuges o convivientes, lo que resulta pertinente es inscribir el bien en copropiedad a nombre de ambos miembros de la pareja (artículo 7 de la Ley 7142, Ley de Promoción de la Igualdad Social de la Mujer), pudiendo ser que cada uno de ellos someta su respectivo derecho al régimen de habitación familiar a favor del otro.\n\r\n\n Todo lo anterior no significa que la afectación del inmueble no pueda o no deba cesar. La cesación puede estar ocasionada por un acuerdo entre el propietario y la persona beneficiaria, puede suceder debido a factores de la vida misma, o bien, puede ser decretada por otras circunstancias que deben ser analizadas por las autoridades jurisdiccionales. Cuando es necesario que la cesación sea decretada por autoridad judicial, también puede ser gestionada por diferentes vías. Así, el artículo 47 del Código de Familia contempla que la afectación cesará por mutuo acuerdo de los cónyuges o convivientes en unión de hecho, por la muerte de los beneficiarios o por el cese de la obligación alimentaria con los hijos e hijas mayores de edad, o bien, cuando sea superada la situación de dependencia económica de las personas con discapacidad o adultas mayores. También cesa por la separación judicialmente decretada o por divorcio, pudiendo continuar la afectación cuando hay otras personas beneficiarias con derecho.\n\r\n\n Existen otras dos formas en que se puede producir la cesación de la afectación. Una de ellas es cuando el propietario requiere traspasar o imponer un gravamen sobre el inmueble, caso en el cual él mismo gestiona, por medio de la actividad judicial no contenciosa todavía denominada como \"enajenación de bienes de menores e incapacitados y otros asuntos en los que ellos se hallen interesados\", contemplada en el Capítulo VII del Libro IV -Actividad judicial no contenciosa y disposiciones comunes- del Código Procesal Civil de 1989 -Ley 7130, todavía aplicable en materia de Familia-, artículos 877 a 885. En esta situación, lo que debe acreditar el promovente -y propietario del inmueble- es que la enajenación o la imposición del gravamen sobre el inmueble resulta útil o necesaria y, además, según reforma introducida al artículo 47.ch) del Código de Familia por medio de la Ley 9580, que esta desafectación se basa en criterios de razonabilidad y proporcionalidad y es a favor de la o las personas beneficiarias.\n\r\n\n El otro escenario se presenta cuando el bien ha dejado de servir para habitación familiar -o la parcela ha dejado de servir de pequeña explotación-, previa comprobación ante el Tribunal, mediante TRÁMITE SUMARIO, es decir, mediante un proceso contencioso. En este caso, la demanda podría ser presentada por un acreedor personal del propietario en contra de este, precisamente cuando pretende perseguir el bien que ya ha dejado de cumplir los fines por los que fue sometido a la afectación, y también puede ser presentada por el propietario del inmueble en contra de la persona o las personas que figuran como beneficiarias, también porque el bien dejó de cumplir los fines por los cuales lo sometió a la afectación, debiéndose tener claro que el beneficio concedido no necesariamente es perpetuo.\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\nIII. En este caso, el Juez denegó la demanda con una plataforma fáctica y jurídica diferente a la que se le sometió a su conocimiento. Él indicó que el actor basó su pretensión en el inciso ch) del artículo 47 del Código de Familia, cuando, en realidad, la pretensión se fundamentó en el literal d) de ese mismo artículo. Es decir, el señor [Nombre 001] no formuló una pretensión en vía no contenciosa para que se le autorizara a vender o a imponer gravamen sobre la propiedad que está inscrita a su nombre y que se encuentra afectada al régimen de habitación familiar a favor de su exconviviente; sino que lo que formuló fue una demanda -es decir, estableció un proceso contencioso- en contra de la señora [Nombre 005], quien figura registralmente como beneficiaria de la afectación, con el argumento de que el bien dejó de servir de habitación familiar, ya que dejó de convivir con doña [Nombre 005] desde hace bastante tiempo. La oposición de doña [Nombre 005] consistió en decir que el bien fue adquirido por don [Nombre 001] desde hace muchos años, pero que lo adquirió con ocasión de la enfermedad de uno de los hijos de ella -no de don [Nombre 001]-, quien lamentablemente falleció.\n\r\n\n Este, y no otro, es el conflicto jurídico que debía resolver el Juez, pero como antes se indicó, lo abordó desde una perspectiva fáctica y jurídica muy distinta a la solicitada. Por esta razón, la sentencia resulta incongruente y, por ende, no queda otra alternativa más que decretar su nulidad, ya que si el Tribunal hiciera ese análisis en este momento, lo estaría haciendo en única instancia.\n\r\n\n Con el fin de procurar garantizar el derecho constitucional que tienen las partes a una Justicia pronta, la nueva sentencia se deberá dictar dentro del plazo legal y ordenatorio de DIEZ DÍAS, contado a partir de la fecha en que el expediente sea recibido por el a-quo.\n\r\n\nPOR TANTO\n\r\n\nSE ANULA la sentencia de primera instancia. Proceda el a-quo conforme se indica en el último párrafo de la parte considerativa.\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\nMCHACON\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n???????????????\nN9WSQSZ4AHM61\nROLANDO SOTO CASTRO - JUEZ/A DECISOR/A\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\n???????????????\nR7U8N7JUPXY61\nSANDRA SABORÍO ARTAVIA - JUEZ/A DECISOR/A\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n???????????????\n9AHNYUGAVVI61\nMAURICIO CHACÓN JIMÉNEZ - JUEZ/A DECISOR/A\n\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\n\r\n\nEXP: 22-000053-1307-FA\n\r\n\nI Circuito Judicial de San José, Edificio Tribunales, Primer Piso. Teléfonos: 2295-3103, 2295-3108 ó 2295-3113. Fax: 2295-3627. Correo electrónico: tfamilia@poder-judicial.go.cr", "body_en_text": "**VOTO NÚMERO N° 2023001008** \n**FAMILY COURT, FIRST SECTION.** San José, at seven hours fifty-six minutes on the twenty-second of September, two thousand twenty-three.-\n\n**SUMMARY PROCEEDING FOR REMOVAL OF FAMILY HOUSING PROTECTION (DESAFECTACIÓN DE INMUEBLE SOMETIDO A HABITACIÓN FAMILIAR)** filed by **[Nombre 001]**, of legal age, married twice, agricultural laborer, holder of identity card number **[Nombre 003]**, resident of Cariari, Pococí, against **[Nombre 002]**, of legal age, single, homemaker, of Nicaraguan nationality, holder of residence card number **[Valor 001]**, resident of Pococí. The plaintiff's special judicial representative is attorney Randall Eduardo Ramírez Vargas, and the defendant is represented by attorney Katerin Andrea Vargas Leal.\n\n**WHEREAS (RESULTANDO)**\n\n**I.** Based on the facts set forth and the legal grounds stated in the complaint, Mr. [Nombre 001] requested that in the judgment *the Judge grants the cessation of the Family Housing Protection (Afectación Habitación Familiar)* in accordance with the Family Code, article 47, subsection d, since *the purpose of the family housing protection (afectación habitación familiar) is currently not applicable as it has ceased to serve my property indicated in the case file.* He also requested that the Public Registry of Property be ordered to cancel the family housing protection (afectación habitación familiar), registered under citations at volume [...], and that the defendant be ordered to pay costs.\n\n**II.** Mrs. [Nombre 002] answered the complaint in the terms set forth in the corresponding brief. She did not file any defenses.\n\n**III.** By judgment rendered at fourteen hours thirty-nine minutes on December twenty-first, two thousand twenty-three, Judge José Olger Valverde Leitón, Family Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit of the Atlantic Zone, ordered: \"**THEREFORE (POR TANTO):** The summary claim for removal of family housing protection (desafectación de patrimonio familiar) brought by Mr. [Nombre 001] against Mrs. [Nombre 002] is dismissed. The plaintiff is ordered to pay the personal and procedural costs arising from the proceedings.\"\n\n**IV.** This Section of the Court hears this matter on appeal filed by the special judicial representative of Mr. [Nombre 001] against the first-instance judgment.\n\n**V.** In processing this appeal, the legal requirements have been observed. This judgment is entered within the term of Law; and\n\nDrafted by Judge Chacón Jiménez; and\n\n**CONSIDERING (CONSIDERANDO)**\n\n**I.** Due to the undeniable impact on the parties and the Administration of Justice itself, the nullity of a judgment should only be decreed when a violation of due process and/or the right of defense has occurred and it is not possible to correct the defect without prejudicing the other acts of the proceedings. In this case, the judgment rendered by the Family Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit of the Atlantic Zone must be annulled for being inconsistent, in its variant of *citra petita*, as the decision was adopted on a factual and legal basis different from that requested.\n\n**II.** The first-instance Judge dismissed the complaint filed by Mr. [Nombre 001] against Mrs. [Nombre 002], but the reasoning set forth in the judgment reflects confusion on the part of the Judge, not only in the area of substantive law but also in procedural law.\n\nThe legal institute of encumbering a real property to the family housing protection regime (afectación de un bien inmueble al régimen de habitación familiar) consists of a person who owns such a property, located in an urban area and measuring less than one thousand square meters—or located in a rural area and measuring less than ten thousand square meters—committing not to transfer it or impose liens on it because it will be inhabited by their spouse or cohabitant, their minor children—or of legal age requiring support—, or by another member of the family group, provided this person inhabits the property and has a disability requiring permanent and generalized support, or is of advanced age. The Code also contemplates the possibility for the owner of a parcel measuring no more than ten thousand meters to subject it to the family housing protection regime in favor of one of the aforementioned persons, when it is intended for small-scale exploitation for family subsistence. The subjection of the property to the family housing protection regime is carried out through a public deed, which must be duly registered in the Property Section of the Public Registry. Once registered, the property may also not be pursued by the owner's personal creditors, with certain exceptions. (Articles 42 and 43 of the Family Code)\n\nAs can be seen, subjecting a real property to the family housing protection regime is a form of family protection, since the unilateral commitment by the property owner not to transfer or impose a lien on the property so that it may be inhabited by one or more of their family members is also rewarded by the fact that their personal creditors, with some exceptions, cannot pursue the property for the payment of their debts. The State protection for the family contemplated in Article 51 of our Constitution is also evident in the manner in which the encumbrance (afectación) is carried out, as it contains tax exemptions and only the Notary Public's fees are paid.\n\nIt must also be considered that there are situations in which this encumbrance (afectación) is not exactly voluntary, but rather the property owner can be compelled to perform it. This occurs when rights created under the Special Regime for Social Interest Housing are acquired, or a real property is granted through social development programs, in which case the property must not only be subjected to this family housing protection regime for a minimum term of ten years (Articles 175 of Law 7052, Law of the National Financial System for Housing and Creation of the BANHVI (Banco Hipotecario de la Vivienda) and 42 of the Family Code), but also, in the case of spouses or cohabitants, what is pertinent is to register the property in co-ownership in the name of both members of the couple (Article 7 of Law 7142, Law for the Promotion of the Social Equality of Women), it being possible for each of them to subject their respective right to the family housing protection regime in favor of the other.\n\nAll of the foregoing does not mean that the encumbrance (afectación) on the property cannot or should not cease. The cessation may be occasioned by an agreement between the owner and the beneficiary, it may occur due to life's circumstances itself, or it may be decreed due to other circumstances that must be analyzed by jurisdictional authorities. When it is necessary for the cessation to be decreed by judicial authority, it can also be processed through different avenues. Thus, Article 47 of the Family Code provides that the encumbrance (afectación) shall cease by mutual agreement of the spouses or de facto cohabitants, upon the death of the beneficiaries, or upon the cessation of the support obligation for children of legal age, or when the situation of economic dependency of persons with disabilities or elderly adults has been overcome. It also ceases upon judicially decreed separation or divorce, with the encumbrance potentially continuing when there are other beneficiaries with rights.\n\nThere are two other ways in which the cessation of the encumbrance (afectación) can occur. One of them is when the owner needs to transfer or impose a lien on the property, in which case they themselves process it through the non-contentious judicial activity still known as \"alienation of property of minors and incapacitated persons and other matters in which they are interested,\" contemplated in Chapter VII of Book IV—Non-contentious judicial activity and common provisions—of the 1989 Civil Procedure Code—Law 7130, still applicable in Family matters—, Articles 877 to 885. In this situation, what the petitioner—and owner of the property—must prove is that the alienation or imposition of the lien on the property is useful or necessary and, additionally, according to the amendment introduced to Article 47.ch) of the Family Code through Law 9580, that this removal of protection (desafectación) is based on criteria of reasonableness and proportionality and is in favor of the beneficiary or beneficiaries.\n\nThe other scenario arises when the property has ceased to serve as family housing—or the parcel has ceased to serve as small-scale exploitation—, upon prior verification before the Court, through **SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS (TRÁMITE SUMARIO)**, that is, through a contentious proceeding. In this case, the complaint could be filed by a personal creditor of the owner against the latter, precisely when the creditor seeks to pursue the property that has ceased to fulfill the purposes for which it was subjected to the encumbrance (afectación), and it can also be filed by the property owner against the person or persons listed as beneficiaries, also because the property has ceased to fulfill the purposes for which the owner subjected it to the encumbrance, it being necessary to understand that the granted benefit is not necessarily perpetual.\n\n**III.** In this case, the Judge denied the complaint on a factual and legal platform different from the one brought before him. He stated that the plaintiff based his claim on subsection ch) of Article 47 of the Family Code, when, in reality, the claim was based on subsection d) of that same article. That is, Mr. [Nombre 001] did not formulate a claim through a non-contentious avenue seeking authorization to sell or impose a lien on the property registered in his name that is encumbered to the family housing protection regime in favor of his former cohabitant; rather, he filed a complaint—meaning, he initiated a contentious proceeding—against Mrs. [Nombre 005], who appears in the registry as the beneficiary of the encumbrance (afectación), with the argument that the property ceased to serve as family housing, as he stopped cohabiting with Mrs. [Nombre 005] quite some time ago. Mrs. [Nombre 005]'s opposition consisted of stating that the property was acquired by Mr. [Nombre 001] many years ago, but that it was acquired on the occasion of the illness of one of her children—not of Mr. [Nombre 001]—, who unfortunately passed away.\n\nThis, and no other, is the legal conflict that the Judge had to resolve, but as previously stated, he addressed it from a factual and legal perspective very different from that requested. For this reason, the judgment is inconsistent and, therefore, there is no alternative but to decree its nullity, since if the Court were to conduct that analysis at this moment, it would be doing so in a single instance.\n\nIn order to ensure the parties' constitutional right to prompt Justice, the new judgment shall be rendered within the legal and peremptory term of **TEN DAYS**, counted from the date the case file is received by the lower court (a-quo).\n\n**THEREFORE (POR TANTO)**\n\n**THE** first-instance judgment is **ANNULLED**. The lower court (a-quo) shall proceed as indicated in the last paragraph of the reasoning (considerativa) section.\n\nHe did not file any exceptions.\n\nIII. By judgment delivered at two thirty-nine in the afternoon of December twenty-first, two thousand twenty-three, Judge José Olger Valverde Leitón, Family Court Judge of the II Judicial Circuit of the Atlantic Zone, ordered: \"THEREFORE: The summary claim for removal (desafectación) of the family homestead (patrimonio familiar) brought by Mr. [Name 001] against Mrs. [Name 002] is dismissed. The plaintiff is ordered to pay the personal and procedural costs arising from the proceedings.\"\n\nIV. This Section of the Court hears this matter on appeal filed by the special judicial representative of Mr. [Name 001] against the first-instance judgment.\n\nV. In the processing of the appeal, the legal prescriptions have been observed. This judgment is delivered within the period established by Law; and Judge Chacón Jiménez writes the opinion; and\n\nWHEREAS\n\nI. Due to the undeniable impact on the parties and on the Administration of Justice itself, the nullity of a judgment should only be decreed when a violation of due process and/or the right of defense has occurred and it is not possible to remedy the defect without harming the other acts of the proceeding. In this case, the judgment rendered by the Family Court Judge of the II Judicial Circuit of the Atlantic Zone must be annulled for being incongruent, in its citra petita form, since the decision was adopted on a factual and legal basis different from that requested.\n\nII. The first-instance judge dismissed the claim filed by Mr. [Name 001] against Mrs. [Name 002], but the reasoning set forth in the judgment reflects confusion on the part of the Judge, not only in the realm of substantive law but also in that of procedural law. The legal institution of affecting (afectación) a real property to the family homestead regime (régimen de habitación familiar) consists of a person who is the owner of such a property, located in an urban area and measuring less than one thousand square meters -or located in a rural area and measuring less than ten thousand square meters-, committing not to transfer it and not to impose encumbrances on it because it will be inhabited by their spouse or cohabitant, their minor children -or older children who require support-, or by another member of the family group, provided that such person inhabits the property and has a disability requiring permanent and generalized support, or is in old age. The Code also contemplates the possibility for the owner of a plot (parcela) measuring no more than ten thousand meters to submit it to the family homestead regime for the benefit of one of the aforementioned persons, when it is intended for a smallholding for the family's subsistence. The submission of the property to the family homestead regime is carried out by means of a public deed, which must be duly registered in the Property Section of the Public Registry. Once registered, the property may also not be pursued by the owner's personal creditors, with certain exceptions. (Articles 42 and 43 of the Family Code)\n\nAs can be observed, the submission of a real property to the family homestead regime is a form of protection for the family, since the unilateral commitment of the property owner not to transfer or impose an encumbrance on the property so that it may be inhabited by one or more members of their family is also rewarded by the fact that their personal creditors, with some exceptions, cannot pursue the property for the payment of their debts. The State's protection in favor of the family, contemplated in Article 51 of our Constitution, is also seen in the manner in which the affectation (afectación) is carried out, as it includes tax exemptions and the only costs paid are the Notary's fees.\n\nIt must also be taken into consideration that there are situations in which this affectation (afectación) is not exactly voluntary, but rather the property owner can be compelled to perform it. This occurs when rights created under the Special Regime for Social Interest Housing are acquired or real property is granted through social development programs, in which case not only must the property be submitted to this family homestead regime for a minimum period of ten years (articles 175 of Law 7052, Law of the National Financial System for Housing and Creation of BANHVI (Mortgage Housing Bank) and 42 of the Family Code), but also, in the case of spouses or cohabitants, the pertinent action is to register the property in co-ownership in the name of both members of the couple (Article 7 of Law 7142, Law for the Promotion of Women's Social Equality), and each of them may submit their respective right to the family homestead regime for the benefit of the other.\n\nAll of the foregoing does not mean that the affectation (afectación) of the property cannot or should not cease. The cessation (cesación) may be caused by an agreement between the owner and the beneficiary, it may happen due to life's circumstances themselves, or it may be decreed due to other circumstances that must be analyzed by the jurisdictional authorities. When it is necessary for the cessation to be decreed by judicial authority, it can also be managed through different avenues. Thus, Article 47 of the Family Code contemplates that the affectation (afectación) shall cease by mutual agreement of the spouses or cohabitants in a de facto union, by the death of the beneficiaries, or by the cessation of the support obligation for adult children, or when the situation of economic dependence of persons with disabilities or older adults is overcome. It also ceases upon judicially decreed separation or divorce, and the affectation (afectación) may continue when there are other beneficiaries with rights.\n\nThere are two other ways in which the cessation (cesación) of the affectation (afectación) can occur. One of them is when the owner needs to transfer or impose an encumbrance on the property, in which case they themselves pursue this through the non-contentious judicial activity still called \"alienation of property of minors and incapacitated persons and other matters in which they hold an interest,\" contemplated in Chapter VII of Book IV -Non-contentious judicial activity and common provisions- of the Civil Procedure Code of 1989 -Law 7130, still applicable in Family matters-, articles 877 to 885. In this situation, what the petitioner -and owner of the property- must prove is that the alienation or the imposition of the encumbrance on the property is useful or necessary and, furthermore, according to the amendment introduced to Article 47.ch) of the Family Code by means of Law 9580, that this removal (desafectación) is based on criteria of reasonableness and proportionality and is for the benefit of the beneficiary person(s).\n\nThe other scenario arises when the property has ceased to serve as a family home -or the plot (parcela) has ceased to serve as a smallholding-, upon prior verification before the Court, by SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS (TRÁMITE SUMARIO), that is, through a contentious process. In this case, the claim could be filed by a personal creditor of the owner against the owner, precisely when they seek to pursue the property that has ceased to fulfill the purposes for which it was submitted to the affectation (afectación), and it can also be filed by the property owner against the person(s) who appear as beneficiaries, also because the property ceased to fulfill the purposes for which they submitted it to the affectation (afectación), it being clear that the granted benefit is not necessarily perpetual.\n\nIII. In this case, the Judge denied the claim on a factual and legal basis different from the one submitted to his consideration. He indicated that the plaintiff based his claim on subsection ch) of Article 47 of the Family Code, when, in reality, the claim was based on literal d) of that same article. That is to say, Mr. [Name 001] did not formulate a claim in a non-contentious proceeding to be authorized to sell or impose an encumbrance on the property that is registered in his name and is affected to the family homestead regime for the benefit of his former cohabitant; rather, he filed a claim -that is, initiated a contentious process- against Mrs. [Name 005], who appears in the registry as the beneficiary of the affectation (afectación), arguing that the property ceased to serve as a family home, since he stopped cohabiting with Mrs. [Name 005] a long time ago. Mrs. [Name 005]'s opposition consisted of stating that the property was acquired by Mr. [Name 001] many years ago, but that he acquired it on the occasion of the illness of one of her children -not Mr. [Name 001]'s child-, who unfortunately passed away.\n\nThis, and no other, is the legal conflict that the Judge had to resolve, but as previously indicated, he addressed it from a factual and legal perspective very different from that requested. For this reason, the judgment is incongruent and, therefore, there is no other alternative than to decree its nullity, since if the Court were to perform that analysis at this time, it would be doing so in a single instance.\n\nIn order to ensure the constitutional right of the parties to prompt Justice, the new judgment shall be rendered within the legal and directory period of TEN DAYS, counted from the date on which the case file is received by the lower court (a-quo).\n\nTHEREFORE\n\nTHE first-instance judgment is HEREBY ANNULLED.\n\nProceed as the a-quo court as indicated in the last paragraph of the recitals section.\n\n| |\n| :--- |\n\n| |\n| :--- |\n\nMCHACON\n\n| | | |\n| :--- | :--- | :--- |\n| trial court (a-quo) as indicated in the last paragraph of the considerative part.

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MCHACON

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N9WSQSZ4AHM61
ROLANDO SOTO CASTRO - PRESIDING JUDGE (JUEZ/A DECISOR/A)

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SANDRA SABORÍO ARTAVIA - PRESIDING JUDGE (JUEZ/A DECISOR/A)

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MAURICIO CHACÓN JIMÉNEZ - PRESIDING JUDGE (JUEZ/A DECISOR/A)

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EXP: 22-000053-1307-FA

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I Circuito Judicial de San José, Edificio Tribunales, Primer Piso. Teléfonos: 2295-3103, 2295-3108 ó 2295-3113. Fax: 2295-3627. Correo electrónico: tfamilia@poder-judicial.go.cr

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