Exequatur, nullity of proceedings, lack of legal defense... And other issues not less important (order of the Provincial Court, May 18th, 2020)

Abstract

The present commentary deals with the Order of the Provincial Court of Barcelona of May 18, 2020 which, a priori, would not seem to be of much interest if we take the descriptors of the decision as a reference. However, it is worthwhile to analyse some references contained in the Order, such as those made with respect to voluntary jurisdiction, the arrangement that may be reached in the scope of a contentious procedure, and to the latter itself. All of this, together with what constitutes the core of the decision: the validity in Spain of a decision taken in Ecuador concerning child support, the alleged nullity of proceedings together with the violation of one of the essential rights of due process by not having given due notice of the lawsuit to the other party.