Notary family law: union, separation, adoption

Updated on Friday 13 March 2026

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Alliance

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Marriage contract : choose their matrimonial regime

A system of separation of property, a universal community, a system of joint ownership reduced to the property acquired after the marriage: the marriage contract makes it possible to prepare, together, one's matrimonial regime.
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Cohabitation or Common law marriage

Cohabitation does not give any obligation to cohabiting partners, does not provide automatic protection of one another, or any solidarity for the expenses of everyday living.
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Divorce

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Divorce and distribution of property in France

Amicable or legal divorce leads to the settling of the matrimonial regime and sharing the property of the couple who is going to separate. The notary helps you settle the pecuniary and property interests of the spouses.
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Sell or buy a property during a divorce procedure

Often, upon separation, without waiting for the final divorce to be pronounced, you have to resettle. Renting or an accommodation through family or friends is one solution. But in some cases, a sale and/or a purchase is considered.
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Taxes: how to declare income during the divorce year?

The marital status of each taxpayer is assessed on December 31 of the taxation year. During the year of a divorce, each person must complete a single declaration which includes their personal income for the entire year and the proportion of common income, accruing to the latter.
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Protect a vulnerable loved one

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Future protection mandates

The lasting power of attorney allows any person to organize his future dependency through a tailor-made legal protection, without losing his rights and his legal capacity.
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Guardianship : definition

Guardianship is one of the three protection measures for adults , with curatorship and court protection. It is more restrictive than curatorship.
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Curatorship: definition

Curatorship is one of the legal protection systems for vulnerable people, through the supervision and protection of the court. Curatorship is a legal measure which intends to protect an adult who needs to be assisted during certain actions in life.
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Adoption

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Conditions for adoption in France

Adoption creates a genuine parent-child relationship between the adopter and the adoptee. However, this relationship will only exist if the adopter expressly asks for it and if it is made official by an order from the regional court.
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Simple adoption

Simple adoption creates a new kinship bond between the adopter and the adoptee but however doesn’t remove the kinship ties which exist between the adoptee and his biological family.
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A question ? Need help ?

Yes, but…In the context of a simple adoption, the adopted child inherits from his family of origin and also from his adoptive family (Articles 364 and 368 of the Civil Code). If your brother were to predecease your mother, his adopted children would represent their father in his mother's estate…
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No. Despite your years of separation, you still retain the status of "entitled spouse" (Article 732 of the Civil Code). In the absence of children, the law provides that you are entitled to at least 1/4 of his estate (Article 914-1 of the Civil Code). Therefore, you are entitled to…
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Yes. The law prohibits the attorney from carrying out acts of gratuitous disposal (such as a gift) on behalf of the protected person without the prior authorisation of the guardianship judge (Article 490 of the French Civil Code)
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No. Once granted, adoption is irrevocable (Civil Code, Article 359). However, Article 345-2 paragraph 2 of the Civil Code provides two exceptions: • A new adoption is possible if the adoptive parents have died. • A simple adoption may be granted for a child already fully adopted if there are…
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No. The co-tenancy rights granted to spouses under Article 1751 of the French Civil Code apply only to leases for premises used exclusively as a family residence. Since the property is used for both residential and professional purposes (mixed use), your spouse will not automatically become a co-holder of the…
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