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A lecturer from the Faculty of Law participates in the debates on the changes to the Family Code in the National Assembly
06 June 2025
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria P. Petrova, Head of the Department of Civil Law at Varna Free University, participated in a public discussion on the proposed changes to the Family Code. The event, which took place in the building of the National Assembly in Sofia, brought together representatives of various institutions, non-governmental organizations and specialists with experience in family law. The main focus of the debates was the topic of shared parenting – a model in which both parents participate equally in the upbringing and education of the child after separation or divorce. The aim of the model is to ensure a real, rather than symbolic, relationship between the child and both parents through a balanced distribution of rights and responsibilities.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria P. Petrova was invited in her capacity as an independent expert and consultant with many years of experience in the field of family law. In her speech, she emphasized that achieving sustainable solutions in disputes between parents requires dialogue between all participants – from institutions to the families themselves. The lecturer at the Faculty of Law at Varna Free University emphasized the need for inter-institutional cooperation and shared responsibility between judges, lawyers, psychologists, mediators and other professionals.
Assoc. Prof. Petrova expressed concern about the problems in practice, which have a severe impact on children. She said that in her capacity as a lawyer she has witnessed numerous cases in which long-standing legal disputes between parents mark the entire childhood of their children, leaving lasting negative consequences in their psyche and perceptions of relationships. In addition to her personal professional experience, she also presented the opinion prepared within the framework of the round table held by the Department of Civil Law at the Faculty of Law at Varna Free University, which was officially sent to the National Assembly and registered as part of the discussed documentation.
At the conclusion of the discussion, MP Denitsa Sacheva thanked all participants and assured them that their opinions and suggestions will be carefully considered when finalizing the bill. It was announced that the next public discussion would be held on June 17th. Assoc. Prof. Petrova's active position and her contribution to the debate reinforce the role of Varna Free University in the development of legal science and practice in Bulgaria.
