Matrimonial regime

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Matrimonial regimes are the property ownership regimes that are set forth in the law to which couples may prescribe under civil law marriage law. See for example the Civil Code of Quebec arts. 431 to 492 and compare with the Civil Code of France.

Many countries, including Canada (Quebec), France, Italy, and Germany, have matrimonial regimes, in addition to, or some cases, in lieu of prenups. In these countries, a couple elects to own property under a separate or shared property, either by meeting with a notary or by signing the agreement in front of the public officer that marries them. Some countries have signed on to the Hague Convention on Marital Regimes. These act much like prenups by allowing the parties to own property either separately or jointly.