Civil marriages as a legal act that consolidates the family welfare of Salvadorans

Abstract

The family, as a socializing agent, has the obligation to influence the cohesion and proper development of each of its members in the physical, emotional, and intellectual spheres, to promote their integration into society at large, ensuring that they become individuals who contribute positively to it. Given that the human person is a holistic being, sociable by nature, the home becomes the ideal setting for achieving these objectives. In this context, multiple factors directly affect the well-being of Salvadoran family units. According to the current legal framework in El Salvador, the family is the fundamental basis of society, which is why civil marriage becomes a key element in the formation of this new social group in the most natural way possible. However, it must be noted that, as a consequence, bonds will inevitably be formed—primarily emotional and therefore highly subjective—which may lead to disagreements or conflicts among them. For this reason, there are regulations aimed at mitigating such differences and promoting an environment of respect and consideration, thus fostering peaceful coexistence and enabling all members to achieve their goals, both collective and individual. It is therefore important for this research to analyze whether civil marriage, in fulfilling its nature as a legal and voluntary act, allows Salvadorans to consolidate family well-being.