Family
Enter into a PACS
pacte civil de solidarité (Pacs)
A civil contract between two adults who organise their life together, including how they share expenses. It is open to same-sex and different-sex couples, whatever their nationality.
Only if you want a registered legal status short of marriage. It is a choice, not a requirement, and it changes your tax and property position.
Whenever both partners are ready. There is no deadline, but the mairie sets the registration appointment.
At the mairie of your shared address, or before a notaire. Some communes accept an online pre-application first.
Registering at a mairie is free. A notaire charges for registering a Pacs; the source page does not state the amount.
- Both partners attend in person and the registrar records the Pacs.
- The Pacs takes effect between the partners from the date it is registered.
A Pacs has no expiry date. Ending one (dissolution) is a separate procedure.