Legal cohabitation - registration

Legal cohabitation is a legal status that officially recognises the fact that two people are living together: a couple, friends, family,... This status offers basic protection and establishes mutual rights and obligations, for example:

• Protection of the shared home: neither of the cohabitants has the right to sell, mortgage or terminate the lease without the consent of the other.
• Contribution to household expenses: each cohabitant must contribute to household expenses according to his or her means. Both must submit a joint tax return, starting from the year following registration of the legal cohabitation.
• Inheritance: in the event of death, the surviving cohabitant has usufruct of the family home and the furniture in it. For the surviving cohabitant to inherit the property, a will must be drawn up.

This status does not change your civil status (single, divorced, widowed) and a simple cessation is all that is required to end your legal cohabitation.

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have legal capacity (not be under property or personal administration).
• Not be married or legally cohabiting with another person.
• At least one of cohabitants must live in the City of Brussels. Both must be resident in Belgium.

Good to know!

Legal cohabitation may be suspended or denied if it appears to be entered into under duress or as a means to gain an advantage in terms of residency status.

For legal cohabitation between two Belgians, born in Belgium and with no history of marriage/divorce abroad:

By appointment, at the counter of the Brucity Administrative Centre, to be made online.

Both cohabitants must be present, with their identity cards, at the appointment.

For any other legal cohabitation:

By e-mail to mariages-huwelijken@brucity.be with the following information about each cohabitant:

• Subject of email: Legal cohabitation + surnames
• Personal details: Surname, first name and date of birth + a copy of both sides of your proof of identity
• Marital status: single, divorced or widowed

Once your application has been reviewed, we will send you a detailed list of the documents you need to provide. When the file is complete, we will arrange an appointment to register the declaration.

Proof of identity.

Once the application has been reviewed, additional documents may be requested.

Good to know!

Foreign documents must be originals (not copies), authenticated or External sitecertified with an apostille (where necessary) in the country of issue and translated by a sworn translator if they are not issued in French or Dutch. 

25 euros 

Registration: immediately at the registration appointment 

External siteThe differences between marriage, legal cohabitation and de facto cohabitation (in French and Dutch) 

External siteFAQ