Introduction: a legal framework for new family realities
In contemporary society, the constitutional principle of the free development of personality, enshrined in Article 10.1 of the Spanish Constitution, protects the diversity of joint life projects. Alongside the institution of marriage, the figure of the stable couple has emerged in Catalonia as a highly relevant alternative, being the Autonomous Community with the highest incidence of this type of cohabitation, to the point of concentrating approximately 80% of registered unions in Spain.
From a notarial perspective, we observe daily the importance of citizens having clear and accurate information to make informed decisions. These lines aim to clarify the fundamental aspects of the constitution of stable couples through a public deed and reflect on the pressing need for a reform of the current regulation.
Stable couples in Catalonia: the three ways of constituting the union
Article 234-1 of Book II of the Catalan Civil Code, relating to the person and the family, establishes that two people who live together in a life community analogous to marriage are considered a stable couple if they meet one of the following requirements:
- An uninterrupted cohabitation of more than two years.
- The existence of a child in common during the cohabitation.
- The formalisation of the relationship in a public deed granted before a Notary.
It is crucial to emphasise that these three ways are alternative, not cumulative. At this point lies the essential nature of notarial intervention: the public deed does not operate as a mere confirmation of a pre-existing factual situation, but currently, according to Catalan law, has an eminently constitutive character, giving legal existence to the couple from the moment it is granted.
The shadow of unconstitutionality: following Navarra’s steps
Currently, the first two routes (cohabitation and having children in common) are under the scrutiny of the Constitutional Court. The Provincial Court of Barcelona has raised a question of unconstitutionality that could invalidate the articles regulating them.
What is the reason? The current Catalan regulation establishes a civil, family and succession regime for the members of the couple that is almost completely equivalent to marriage, without necessarily having given their express consent. A legal status of enormous consequences is imposed merely by living together or having a child, which could violate the principle of autonomy of will and the free development of personality.
This scenario is not new. In the Chartered Community of Navarra, the Constitutional Court already annulled a similar regulation, arguing that a legal status equivalent to marriage cannot be attributed without a clear and express manifestation of the parties' will. If the Constitutional Court follows the same criterion, only couples who have formalised their relationship through a public deed will be able to continue enjoying the patrimonial, succession and family rights granted by law, making the public deed the only means of confirming the existence of the couple.
The public deed and the role of the Notary
When two people voluntarily attend a Notary’s office to formalise their union as a couple, they are exercising their autonomy and freedom to define their relationship. The public deed is the instrument that materialises their decision immediately and with full legal effects from the moment it is granted.
The notarial function, governed by the principle of rogation, obliges us to provide the public service when we are required to do so. Our task consists of guaranteeing the legality and security of the act, which implies:
- Identifying the parties.
- Assessing their legal capacity.
- Ensuring that their consent is freely given.
- Adapting their will to current legality, informing them of the effects of the act or transaction executed.
It is necessary to clarify a frequently misunderstood point: the law does not impose the requirement of prior cohabitation for granting the deed of constitution of a stable couple. The law does not require evidence of a “courtship” or a trial period. If two adults decide to start a joint life project, they may formalise it from the very first day.
Thus, the refusal of notarial intervention is an exceptional measure that must be solidly justified by a legal cause. In the context of stable couples, this cause could be the detection of fraudulent intent (for example, if the couple is being formed for the sole purpose of obtaining an administrative benefit without a real intention to live together) or the breach of mandatory legal rules. However, Notaries generally do not have many means of control, except in cases where very evident indications arise, which highlights a significant weakness in the Catalan legal system.
The phenomenon of convenience couples
The lack of a homogeneous national regulation and the peculiarities of Catalan law have created a legal framework that generates great insecurity and has also given rise to the phenomenon of “convenience couples”: individuals who rely on Catalonia’s lenient regulations solely to obtain administrative benefits (such as residence permits), without a genuine joint life project.
The instrumentalisation of the stable couple does not only constitute a fraud of law in itself but can also result in serious consequences for all participants in the simulation. Those who participate in organisations that artificially create links between Spanish citizens (or EU nationals) and non-EU foreigners, solely for the foreigner to obtain a residence permit, may incur the crime of facilitating illegal immigration as defined in Article 318 bis of the Criminal Code. Furthermore, for the foreign national, a conviction for this type of offence may lead to expulsion from Spanish territory in accordance with the Immigration Law.
For this reason, legislative improvements are urgently needed to balance the protection of cohabitants with legal certainty and fraud prevention. One solution, already adopted by other regional regulations, would be to require a minimum accredited period of cohabitation or the provision of witness statements as additional evidence to prove the notoriety of the couple – that is, that the relationship exists externally and publicly – thus guaranteeing the existence of genuine affectio maritalis.
Conclusion: the public deed and the need for clearer and safer regulation
Given the legal uncertainty created by the possible declaration of unconstitutionality of part of the Catalan regulation, the formalisation of the stable couple through a public deed before a Notary becomes the only mechanism that offers full guarantees and constitutive effects.
However, this solution should not overshadow the need for comprehensive legislative reform, preferably at a national level, that harmonises the regulation of an increasingly common social reality. It is imperative to design a legal framework that protects autonomy of will, provides legal certainty to third parties and effectively prevents fraudulent use of the institution.
If you would like more information or to schedule an appointment without obligation, you can contact us.
Aspectos esenciales sobre las parejas estables en Cataluña
The parejas estables en Cataluña se han convertido en una figura jurídica de referencia dentro del Derecho civil catalán. Su regulación específica y la importancia social de esta modalidad de convivencia hacen necesario comprender con claridad cómo se constituyen, qué efectos producen y qué implicaciones notariales y legales comportan.
Requisitos legales y efectos jurídicos actuales
Dentro del marco normativo vigente, las parejas estables en Cataluña pueden formalizarse por diversas vías, aunque la escritura pública ante Notario se consolida como el mecanismo con mayor seguridad jurídica. La normativa catalana otorga a estas uniones efectos patrimonials, successoris i familiars que, en alguns casos, s’equiparen als del matrimoni, fet que ha impulsat un intens debat sobre la constitucionalitat d’alguns preceptes.
Importancia de la escritura pública en la configuración de la pareja
En l’entorn jurídic actual, la formalització mitjançant escriptura pública és l’opció que millor garanteix la voluntat expressa dels convivents. Per això, quan es parla de parejas estables en Cataluña, la intervenció notarial adquireix un paper essencial, ja que verifica la identitat, la capacitat i el consentiment, i assegura l’adequació del pacte a la legislació vigent.
Retos actuales en la regulación de las parejas estables en Cataluña
La possible declaració d’inconstitucionalitat d’alguns articles del Codi Civil de Catalunya genera incertesa i situa les parejas estables en Cataluña en un moment clau de redefinició jurídica. La convivència sense consentiment formal o la tinença d’un fill com a criteris automàtics d’aplicació d’un règim quasi matrimonial ha estat especialment qüestionada.
Necesidad de mayor seguridad jurídica y prevención del fraude
Uno de los puntos más delicados es evitar el mal uso de la figura, especialmente en casos de parejas de conveniencia, que han sorgit per aprofitar la normativa catalana en processos d’estrangeria. Aquest fenomen reforça la necessitat de criteris més clars, mecanismes de verificació i un marc uniforme per a totes les parejas estables en Cataluña.
Hacia una regulación homogénea y respetuosa con la autonomía de la voluntad
La solució més coherent passa per reforçar el paper de l’escriptura pública i harmonitzar la regulació, garantint que les parejas estables en Cataluña responguin sempre a una voluntat clara, lliure i manifestada de manera expresa.
Puede contactar con nuestro equipo y le guiaremos en todo el proceso: