Family
The 1987 Family Code, substantially reformed in 2016
The Family Code of 1987 was amended in 2016 to remove the wife's need for marital authorisation to act in law, equalise the minimum marriage age at 18 and revise parental authority. Monogamy is the only legally recognised form of marriage, though customary polygamy persists in fact.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Tribunaux de paix hear family matters; registrars celebrate marriage.
- Deadline — Birth registration: 90 days
- Deadline — Minimum age of marriage: 18 for both spouses since 2016
Governing law
- Loi n° 87-010 portant Code de la famille
- Loi n° 16/008 modifying the Family Code
- Loi n° 09/001 portant protection de l'enfant
In practice
The 2016 reform was significant because the 1987 Code had required a married woman to obtain her husband's authorisation for most legal acts, including employment and litigation. Removing that provision changed the capacity of millions of women to contract in their own name, and monogamy remains the only recognised marital form despite widespread customary practice to the contrary.