Stable Union to Marriage

Converting a Stable Union into Marriage

A Stable Union is a relationship where a man and a woman decide to join their lives to establish a family.

The Brazilian New Civil Code does not define any minimum time period of duration for this type of relationship to be considered a Stable Union. And curiously as it may seem, it does not require that the couple live under the same roof, that is, man and woman may have different domiciles.

To convert a Stable Union into Marriage, the couple must go to the Civil Registry of their domicile and make their application.

Same as for a conventional marriage, the couple (Brazilian or foreign nationals) may choose the property ruling system and can also change their names.

It is necessary that they take the required documents and two witnesses to the Registry to make their application for the Qualification Process.

The only difference in this case is that there will be no wedding ceremony, that is, there is no need to have a Justice of Peace to celebrate the wedding.

After a period of 16 days, the newly wedded couple will get their Certificate of Marriage from the Registry.

The marriage becomes effective on that date.