Family
Civil Code marriage with a specialised family jurisdiction
Family matters sit with dedicated Juzgados de Familia under the Ley de Tribunales de Familia. The Civil Code governs marriage, and unión de hecho can be registered to produce most of the effects of marriage. Same-sex marriage is not recognised.
Key rules
- Marriage requires both parties to be 18; the previous judicial dispensation for minors was removed in 2015 by Decreto 13-2017.
- The default property regime is comunidad de gananciales unless the parties choose separación absoluta or comunidad absoluta.
- Unión de hecho may be declared before a notary or judge after three years of cohabitation and gives inheritance and maintenance rights.
- Divorce is available by mutual consent or on fault grounds; there is a mandatory conciliation stage.
- Child maintenance is enforceable by arraigo, an order preventing the debtor from leaving the country.
Governing law
- Código Civil (Decreto Ley 106, Arts 78-441)Marriage, filiation and unión de hecho.
- Ley de Tribunales de Familia (Decreto Ley 206)Family court procedure.
- Ley de Protección Integral de la Niñez y Adolescencia (Decreto 27-2003)Child protection (PINA).
In practice
Arraigo is the most effective maintenance remedy in practice and is granted readily. Femicide and domestic violence cases go to specialised courts created by Decreto 22-2008, which run separately from the family courts.