Who owns what in a marriage in Russia?

Property acquired during the marriage is joint by default

Russia's default is a joint property of the spouses: what they acquire during the marriage is jointly owned, whoever's name it is in.

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 jointly owned by both spouses. Property from before the marriage and gifts and inheritances are the personal property of each.

When the marriage ends in divorce

The joint property is divided equally, unless a court sees good reasons to depart from equal shares, or a marriage contract says otherwise.

A marriage contract

A marriage contract is allowed, before or during the marriage, 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

Russia has its own rules on which law applies. Check them if a spouse is a foreigner or the couple live abroad.

Understand the legal system first

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

Official sources

Official internet portal of legal information (Russia)

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.