Who owns what in a marriage in Poland?

Property acquired during the marriage is joint by default

Poland's default is a statutory community of property: everything the spouses acquire during the marriage is joint.

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 by either spouse during the marriage belongs jointly to both. Property from before the marriage and gifts and inheritances stay personal.

When the marriage ends in divorce

The joint property is divided, equally unless there are reasons why it should not be.

A marriage contract

A marriage property agreement is made before a notary and can be made before or during the marriage.

What stays your own, and gifts

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

If one spouse is a foreigner

Poland does not take part in the EU Matrimonial Property Regulation, so check its national rules for the couple.

Understand the legal system first

Poland 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 Poland legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Can a foreigner buy property in Poland? →

Official sources

Polish 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.