{"id":347969,"date":"2026-04-16T10:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T08:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zabalgoabogados.entornopre.es\/diccionario-juridico\/pareja-de-hecho\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T23:35:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T21:35:29","slug":"common-law-couples","status":"publish","type":"conceptos_juridicos","link":"https:\/\/palomazabalgo.com\/en\/legal-concepts\/common-law-couples\/","title":{"rendered":"Common-law couples"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>What are common-law couples?<\/h2>\n<p>Common-law couples are those who publicly and stably cohabit with each other, regardless of sex, sharing common interests in developing a family life but without getting married.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>What requirements are needed to be a common-law couple in Spain?<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>To be of legal age or emancipated.<\/li>\n<li>There should be no direct kinship between the members of the common-law couples<\/li>\n<li>Not to be married. If any member has been married before, it is necessary to provide proof of divorce.<\/li>\n<li>To demonstrate a minimum period of cohabitation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>What regulations exist?<\/h3>\n<p>We are facing a lack of state regulation in Spain.<\/p>\n<p>Some Autonomous Communities have regulated their own laws:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Andalusia: Law 5\/2022 of December 16, on common-law couples.<\/li>\n<li>Madrid: Law 11\/2001 of December 19 on Common-law Unions.<\/li>\n<li>Catalonia: It is regulated in Article 234.1 of the Catalan Civil Code.<\/li>\n<li>Navarra: Foral Law 6\/2000 of July 3 for the equality of stable couples.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These are not the only ones, other autonomous communities also have their own laws.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>What benefits or rights are acquired by becoming a common-law couple?<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The same rights and obligations with regard to children as in the case of marriage.<\/li>\n<li>Paid leave entitlements (paternity\/maternity, illness, etc.).<\/li>\n<li>The same rights to health care as the spouse in a marriage.<\/li>\n<li>The ability to take over a lease contract in the event of the partner&#8217;s death<\/li>\n<li>Access to grants, scholarships, and subsidies.<\/li>\n<li>Access to the widow&#8217;s pension.<\/li>\n<li>Easier adoption process compared to if they were not registered as a common-law couple.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>What difficulties do common-law couples face?<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>They do not have a marital economic regime.<\/li>\n<li>They cannot file joint tax returns.<\/li>\n<li>Regarding inheritance tax, it depends on the regulations established by the Autonomous Community.<\/li>\n<li>Issues with inheritance unless there is a will.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>How are common-law couples registered?<\/h3>\n<p>One way to demonstrate these unions is by registering them in the Common-law Couples Registry. Although registration is highly recommended, it is not mandatory.<\/p>\n<p>The information is provided by the Autonomous Communities and, in general, the Municipalities. There is no national common-law couples law.<\/p>\n<p>Couples must go to the Autonomous Community where they reside or to the Municipality where they are registered.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Related content:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/palomazabalgo.com\/en\/domestic-partnerships\/\">Civil partnerships<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/palomazabalgo.com\/en\/legal-concepts\/de-facto-separation\/\">De facto separation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/palomazabalgo.com\/en\/legal-concepts\/marriage\/\">Marriage<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","categories":[1],"class_list":["post-347969","conceptos_juridicos","type-conceptos_juridicos","status-publish","hentry","category-articles-and-current-case-law"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.4 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Common-law couples : Whats it is and 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