In a landmark decision dated Nov. 29, 2000, the Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional Article 1463 of the Civil Code which had penalized divorced women with the loss of their assets in the matrimonial community unless they made a declaration in court, accepting the community, within 130 days of the publication of the divorce. The Supreme Court decision was based on an interpretation of Article 8-5 of the Dominican Constitution that establishes the equality of all Dominicans under the Law.