Who owns what in a marriage in Seychelles?
Seychelles has a civil code of French origin, with common-law influences, and the property of the spouses depends on the regime they have.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
A general outline, not a checked profile
We have not yet researched Seychelles line by line. This page describes how countries with the same legal tradition usually work, so that the map is not blank, and it can differ from the law in Seychelles. Reliable, current information is hard to find for many African countries: laws are often not published online or not translated, customary and religious rules are unwritten or differ from one community to the next, and reforms are not always reported.
Can you help? If you know the rule in Seychelles, or you work with its law, please email us what it says and where it is written. We will check it and update the page, with credit if you wish.
What applies by default
Under the civil code the spouses have a legal regime unless they choose another by a marriage contract before the wedding. Check the code for the regime that applies.
When the marriage ends in divorce
The property is divided according to the regime, and the court can take account of each spouse's contribution.
A marriage contract
The spouses can choose their regime by a marriage contract before a notary.
What stays your own, and gifts
Property from before the marriage, gifts and inheritances generally stay personal.
If one spouse is a foreigner
The country has its own rules on which law governs a marriage and its property. Get local advice if one spouse is a foreigner, if the couple live abroad, or if the marriage was celebrated under customary or religious law.
Understand the legal system first
Seychelles belongs to the Mixed: civil and common law family. Family law grows out of the legal tradition, so it helps to know how the system works.
Read the Seychelles legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Can a foreigner buy property in Seychelles? →
Official sources
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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.
