Who owns what in a marriage in Ukraine?

Property acquired during the marriage is joint by default

Ukraine's default is a joint property of the spouses: what they acquire during the marriage belongs to both, and they can agree otherwise in a marriage contract.

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. Property from before the marriage, gifts and inheritances are the personal property of each.

When the marriage ends in divorce

The joint property is divided equally, unless the spouses agreed otherwise or the court sees a reason to depart from equal shares, for example because of the children.

A marriage contract

A marriage contract can be made 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

Ukraine has its own rules on which law applies. Get local advice, because the practical position of courts and registries can be affected by the security situation.

Understand the legal system first

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

Official sources

Ministry of Justice of Ukraine

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.