54 CultureShock! Chile
Many pregnant, unwed women decide to keep their babies.
Most continue to live at home and work, relying a great deal
upon the support (emotional, financial and physical) of their
families. While the social stigma associated with illegitimacy
is slowly disappearing, until recently, the law still treated
these children differently, especially in terms of inheritance
rights. The issue was debated in Congress. Supporters and
opponents of legislation to rescind the distinction raised
arguments based on economic, legal, social and moral
grounds, but the changes were finally introduced.Divorce
In 2004, Chile was the last country in South America to
legalise divorce. Strong opposition from the Catholic Church
and conservative sectors of Chilean society managed to
keep a divorce law from being passed for many years, even
though most Chileans favoured it. Previously, a couple that
wanted to terminate a marriage either lived separately, often
forming new families, while still legally married, or filed for
an annulment.
An annulment was a legal procedure that should not be
confused with an annulment granted by the Catholic Church.
With the aid of an attorney, one person would claim that
there had been a procedural error in the civil marriage, most
often, that the marriage had been performed by the Civil
Registry Service of the wrong jurisdiction. Fake witnesses
would swear this to be the case. Annulments were expensive
and only worked if both parties agreed, which meant that
many people were unable to get one.
Obtaining a divorce is more affordable and much easier,
although the lines to file are long. Couples are required to
undergo 60 days of counselling and can divorce after a one-
year separation period if both agree or three years if one party
does not agree. In special cases, such as evidence of domestic
abuse, the couple is exempted from the waiting period.Religious Beliefs and Values
Many of Chile’s conservative values are founded in the
values of the church. Latin America remains one of the