Who owns what in a marriage in Colombia?
Colombia's default is a conjugal partnership of the property acquired during the marriage, which can be set aside by a marriage agreement.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
What applies by default
Property acquired during the marriage forms a conjugal partnership, while property from before and gifts and inheritances stay personal.
When the marriage ends in divorce
The conjugal partnership is liquidated and divided between the spouses.
A marriage contract
Spouses can make pre-nuptial agreements, called capitulaciones, to set a different arrangement.
What stays your own, and gifts
Property from before the marriage, gifts and inheritances stay personal.
If one spouse is a foreigner
Colombia has its own rules on which law applies, so foreigners should get local advice.
Understand the legal system first
Colombia 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 Colombia legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Can a foreigner buy property in Colombia? →
Official sources
Take it further
The family and property rules of a European country in one PDF, with questions for a local lawyer.
Set the property rules before the marriage, in your own terms.
For couples who live together without marrying.
Marriage, divorce, custody and support, step by step.
Divide property and settle the terms in writing.
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TheLawToKnow Tools’s marital property guide is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.
