Who owns what in a marriage in Bulgaria?

Property acquired during the marriage through the work of either spouse or both is jointly owned. Property owned before the marriage, and gifts and inheritances, stay personal.

The joint property is divided on divorce, usually in equal shares, and a spouse can ask the court to take account of unequal contributions or of the family home's use for the children.

A marriage contract can be made before or during the marriage, in a notarised form, and can set a different regime, such as separation of property.

Property from before the marriage, gifts and inheritances stay personal. A personal asset can become joint if the other spouse contributes substantially to it.

In member states that take part in the EU Matrimonial Property Regulation, the law that governs the spouses' property is set by common rules, and spouses may choose from a short list of laws in a written agreement. Check whether the country takes part.

• A marriage contract in Bulgaria must be notarised and, for property that is registered, registered as well.

Bulgaria belongs to the Civil law family. Family law grows out of the legal tradition, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the Bulgaria legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Can a foreigner buy property in Bulgaria? →

• European e-Justice Portal: matrimonial property regimes in the EU