Family
Civil marriage for all since 2017 and statutory equalisation on divorce
The BGB governs family law, with civil marriage open to same-sex couples since 2017. Divorce generally follows a one-year separation, and pension rights and accrued gains are equalised between spouses.
Key rules
- Marriage is open to all couples since the Ehe für alle reform of 2017.
- Divorce normally requires one year of separation and breakdown of the marriage.
- Zugewinnausgleich equalises the gain in assets accrued during the marriage.
Governing law
- Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, family book
- Gesetz zur Einführung des Rechts auf Eheschließung (2017)
In practice
The Versorgungsausgleich automatically splits pension entitlements on divorce, which is often more valuable than the division of property.