Marriage and legal cohabitation in Belgium
This brochure has been written in part for the benefit of soon-to-be partners, of which either one or both does not have Belgian citizenship or is staying abroad. It is also written to inform others who advise these partners.
This brochure has four sections:
> The first section defines marriage and legal cohabitation as well as the differences between the two procedures for establishing a legal bond between the couple.
> The second section scrutinizes the prohibition of unions of convenience and provides a definition and analysis of a possible unions of convenience.
> The third section presents different procedures for marriage or legal cohabitation and details the rights and duties of partners and public services concerned.
> The fourth section, lastly, analyses the penalties incurred by a union of convenience from the point of view of criminal law, civil law, and residence.