Who owns what in a marriage in Slovakia?

Property acquired during the marriage is joint by default

Slovakia's default is a joint ownership of the spouses' 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 jointly owned by both spouses, with exceptions for personal items, gifts and inheritances.

When the marriage ends in divorce

The joint property is divided, in principle equally, unless the spouses agree otherwise or a court finds a reason to depart from equal shares.

A marriage contract

Spouses can change the extent of the joint property by a notarial deed.

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

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

Official sources

Slovak 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.