Legal cohabitation is a form of union between two people who agree to live together as life partners, within the framework of official recognition by the State in Belgium.
The conditions for legal cohabitation are as follows:
- You must not be married or in another legal cohabitation relationship
- You must have legal capacity and not be a minor
- Have a common habitual residence
There is no requirement to be of a different sex or to have no family ties.
Legal cohabitation can be considered as a de facto residence in a territory, linked to a duration or a desire to forge lasting ties. It can be terminated in various ways, including by mutual consent, by the marriage or death of one of the cohabitants, or by unilateral termination.
The procedure :
To declare a legal cohabitation, the two members must make an appointment online and go together to the Population or Civil Status department of their local authority. The cost of the declaration varies depending on the local authority, but is generally between €20 and €60. The partners must then draw up a legal cohabitation agreement, which may be drawn up by a notary or by the applicants themselves. However, it is advisable to use the services of a notary to ensure that the agreement is legally valid.
To end a legal cohabitation in the Brussels region, you need to make an appointment with the local authority and bring your identity card with you. The cost and time involved depend on the type of termination (unilateral or mutual agreement) and the local authority concerned.
What documents do I need to provide?
The documents to be enclosed with a declaration of legal cohabitation vary depending on the commune. As a general rule, the following documents are required
- identity documents of the cohabitants
- Proof of celibacy, dissolution or annulment of previous marriage(s) and absence of legal cohabitation.
The documents to enclose in the event of cessation of legal cohabitation vary depending on the commune. As a general rule, the following documents are required
- Identity document(s)
Links, forms en documents
Documents and links
- https://www.anderlecht.be/fr/population-cohabitation-legale
- https://www.auderghem.be/da/d%C3%A9claration-de-cohabitation-l%C3%A9gale
- https://berchem.brussels/fr/vous-citoyen/habiter-et-vivre/formalites-et-demarches/contrat-de-cohabitation-legale/
- https://etterbeek.brussels/fr/demarches/famille-et-sante/cohabitation-legale
- https://evere.brussels/fr/vivre-a-evere/coronavirus/documents-administratifs
- https://forest.irisnet.be/fr/services-communaux/etat-civil/cohabitation-legale
- https://www.ganshoren.be/content/uploads/2021/11/cohabitation-legale-cessation-de-la-cohabitation-legale.pdf
- https://www.ixelles.be/site/97-Cohabitation-legale
- https://www.jette.irisnet.be/fr/a-votre-service/demandes-et-documents/cohabitation-legale
- https://www.koekelberg.be/w/index.php?cont=3067&lgn=1
- https://www.koekelberg.be/w/index.php?cont=3069&lgn=1
- https://stgilles.brussels/procedures/cohabitation-legale
- https://www.sjtn.brussels/fr/la-commune/demarches-administratives/etat-civil
- https://www.1030.be/fr/content/declaration-de-cohabitation-legale
- https://www.uccle.be/fr/vie-pratique/demarches-administratives/etrangers#cohabitation
- https://www.bruxelles.be/certificat-de-cohabitation-legale
- https://watermael-boitsfort.be/fr/vivre-a-watermael-boitsfort/population/cohabitation-legale
- https://fr.woluwe1200.be/cohabitation-legale
- https://www.woluwe1150.be/services-communaux/etat-civil-et-population/cohabitation-legale/
19 municipalities
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