Who owns what in a marriage in Latvia?

Property acquired during the marriage is joint by default

Latvia's default is a community of the property acquired during the marriage.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

The default, not your case. This page describes what applies when a couple sign no contract. Family law changes, and a court can decide differently on the facts of a case. For a couple with a foreign spouse, take advice in each country involved. This is general information, not legal advice.

What applies by default

Property acquired during the marriage is joint, apart from personal property, gifts and inheritances.

When the marriage ends in divorce

The joint property is divided between the spouses, in principle equally, with account taken of the children and of unequal contributions.

A marriage contract

A marriage contract can set another regime and must be notarised.

What stays your own, and gifts

Property from before the marriage, gifts and inheritances stay personal.

If one spouse is a foreigner

In member states that take part in the EU Matrimonial Property Regulation, common rules decide which law governs the spouses' property. Check whether this country takes part.

Understand the legal system first

Latvia 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 Latvia legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →

Official sources

Latvian Ministry of Justice

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.