Article 18

Change of applicable law

The spouses may, at any time during the marriage, make their matrimonial property regime subject

to a law other than the one hitherto applicable. They may designate only one of the following laws:

(a) the law of the State of habitual residence of one of the spouses at the time this choice is

made;

(b) the law of a State of which one of the spouses is a national at the time this choice is made.

Unless the spouses desire otherwise, a change of the law applicable to the matrimonial property

regime made during the marriage shall be effective only in the future.

If the spouses choose to make this change of applicable law retrospective, the retrospective effect

may not affect the validity of previous transactions entered into under the law applicable hitherto or

the rights of third parties deriving from the law previously applicable.