Which matrimonial regime applies by default in France?

In the absence of a marriage contract, French residents who marry are governed by the community of acquests regime (Article 1400 of the French Civil Code). Assets acquired during the marriage are common, while assets owned before marriage or received by gift or inheritance remain personal.

Can foreign spouses elect French law for their marital property?

Yes. Under Regulation (EU) 2016/1103 on matrimonial property regimes, spouses may designate the law applicable to their regime, within the limits set by the Regulation. The election is recorded in a notarial deed.

What distinguishes the separation of property regime?

Each spouse retains exclusive ownership and management of his or her assets. This regime is appropriate for spouses with distinct professional risks or with substantial personal estates, and is frequently combined with a participation in acquests on dissolution.

How does community universelle protect the surviving spouse?

Under the community universelle regime, all assets are pooled into a single common mass. Combined with a full attribution clause to the survivor, it transfers the entire mass to the surviving spouse without partition, but it should be considered in light of the position of the children of the union.

Office de Maître Virginie LAIDET et Maître Flore de SAINT MAURICE

Marriage contract and French civil partnership (PACS)

Preparing a marriage contract or a PACS agreement means setting a deliberate and stable estate framework together. Our role is to support you carefully through this step, clarifying every option and securing the drafting at the pace that suits you.

Roadmap

Matrimonial property regimes

Four main regimes coexist. The choice shapes the composition of the marital estate, the protection of the spouse and the way wealth is transferred.

Statutory community of acquisitions

Default regime, in the absence of a contract. Assets acquired during the marriage become marital; pre-marital assets and those received by inheritance or gift remain personal (Article 1400 of the French Civil Code).

Separation of property

Each spouse retains ownership and management of their own assets. Suitable for at-risk professional situations or established estates (Article 1536 of the French Civil Code).

Universal community

All assets, present and future, are placed in common. Often combined with a clause assigning the whole community to the surviving spouse (Article 1526 of the French Civil Code).

Participation in acquisitions

A two-stage regime: separation during the marriage, sharing of accrued gains upon dissolution (Article 1569 of the French Civil Code).

Marriage versus PACS

Two distinct legal logics

The default property regime

Statutory community for marriage (Article 1400 of the French Civil Code); separation of property for PACS (Article 515-5 of the French Civil Code).

Inheritance rights

The surviving spouse is a statutory heir under the French Civil Code (Articles 756 et seq.). A PACS partner is not a statutory heir: a transfer requires a will or a prior gift (Article 515-6 of the French Civil Code).

Marital benefits

Préciput, unequal sharing and full attribution to the surviving spouse are reserved to spouses. A PACS agreement does not allow them.

Subsequent changes

The matrimonial regime may be modified by notarial deed (Article 1397 of the French Civil Code). A PACS agreement may be modified at any time, before the notary who received it or before the town hall that registered it.

For couples already married and contemplating a change of regime, the office also handles modifications of matrimonial regimes.

Notre méthode

Une préparation pensée pour vous accompagner pas à pas

Our method begins with listening, sometimes simply with a first phone call. The online questionnaire allows you, at your own pace, to gather the items we will need, without pressure and without needing to know everything from the outset.

Vous nous transmettez les premiers éléments

Civil status of each spouse or partner, initial estate, joint projects. No field is mandatory.

Vous joignez les pièces dont vous disposez

ID document, birth certificate less than three months old, proof of address, summary of assets. You can defer what you do not have to hand.

Vous nous adressez votre dossier

By secure email. A clear summary is returned to you.

Nous prenons le relais

We draft a preliminary deed, arrange a reading meeting and agree together the date of signature before a notary.

Le questionnaire en ligne

Ce que nous allons aborder ensemble

The questionnaire for preparing a marriage contract or a PACS agreement is designed to leave you all the time you need. It adapts to your estate, your joint projects and any specific points to anticipate that you wish to flag.

Les thèmes du questionnaire

Valid ID documents for each spouse or partner
Birth certificates less than three months old for each party (or less than six months for foreign records, with apostille or legalisation depending on the country of issue)
Proof of address for each spouse or partner
Divorce decree or death certificate in case of a previous union
List of personal assets to contribute, if a separation regime is contemplated
Any document relating to the estate of the parties (securities, life-insurance contracts, real estate)

Ce que vous apporte la démarche

Un parcours adaptatif, qui ne vous interroge que sur ce qui vous concerne, et qui vous laisse, à chaque étape, la possibilité de cocher « je fournis plus tard » pour les pièces que vous n’avez pas sous la main.

À la fin du parcours, vous disposez d’un récapitulatif clair de tout ce que vous nous avez confié, et d’un envoi sécurisé à l’étude en un seul geste.

Découvrir le questionnaire ›

Start the marriage and PACS questionnaire

Quelques minutes suffisent pour démarrer. Vous pouvez revenir et compléter votre dossier à tout moment.

Démarrer mon questionnaire

En plusieurs sessions courtes, à votre rythme. Reprenez la saisie quand vous le souhaitez.

Nos engagements

Notre cadre de travail

Confidentialité absolue

Le secret professionnel notarial s’impose à l’ensemble de l’étude. Vos données ne sont consultées qu’aux fins de votre dossier et conservées avec le plus grand soin.

Accompagnement personnalisé

Chaque dossier est confié à un interlocuteur identifié, joignable et réactif, du premier contact à la signature, et au-delà.

Rigueur et clarté

Une explication intelligible de chaque étape, des chiffrages présentés sans détour et des pièces vérifiées une à une.

Bon à savoir

Vous n’avez pas le temps ou ne souhaitez pas compléter votre dossier en ligne ?

Pas d’inquiétude. Nous serons ravies d’ouvrir le dossier avec vous, à l’étude, en visioconférence ou par téléphone. Nous en profiterons pour vous poser les questions utiles et déterminer ensemble les documents à transmettre, à votre rythme et selon vos contraintes.

RDV avec Maître Virginie LAIDET RDV avec Maître Flore de SAINT MAURICE

Mémo imprimable

List of documents for a marriage contract or PACS agreement

Téléchargez la liste pour la garder à portée de main.

Télécharger le PDF

Indicative retainer

For the signature of a simple marriage contract or a PACS agreement received by the office, the indicative retainer is approximately:

360 € TTC

This amount covers the drafting and signing of the deed, its registration and current expenses. It applies to a simple marriage contract or a PACS agreement without contributions of assets. Where the contract includes a real-estate contribution, the notary’s fee becomes proportional to the value of the contribution (Article R. 444-3 of the French Commercial Code). Where the situation presents other specific features (significant movable contributions, foreign assets, split of usufruct and bare ownership, related testamentary provisions, plans for a future company), a personalised estimate is sent after the first consultation.