Many clients who come to our offices ask us how they can formalize their relationship with their partner. While it is true that we can also formalize the union with our partner through marriage, in this article we will address the establishment by way of domestic partnership.
Where can we establish it? We can do so at a notary’s office, or directly at the Domestic Partnership Registry of Catalonia.
How can we establish it? Our Civil Code of Catalonia gives us three options:
The first is if the cohabitation lasts more than two uninterrupted years. In this case, the Domestic Partnership Registry will require the updated historical cohabitation certificate of registration, in addition to other documents such as the partners’ identification documents or the birth certificates of the applicants.
The second is if during the cohabitation, it is proven that they have a child in common. In this case, the Domestic Partnership Registry will require the full birth certificate or family record book showing the common descendant. It is important that the birth occurred during the cohabitation.
The third is if both parties formalize the relationship in a public deed. In this case, we refer to the couple going to a notary’s office to establish this partnership. The notary will require the cohabitation certificate, our identification documents, and will also require us to bring two witnesses on the day of establishment.
Once the partnership is established, a document will be signed which is the public deed, and the notary will send the signed documents to the Civil Registry of Domestic Partnerships. A few days or weeks later, the certificate confirming that the partnership is registered in the Civil Registry of Domestic Partnerships will be received. If you wish to establish a domestic partnership through one of these procedures, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Anna Nicolàs Torán
Family Law Expert Attorney
M&C Abogados
