A few days before February 14, the Day of Love, the National Superintendence of Public Registries (Sunarp) reported that 4,731 couples They registered their De facto Union in the Registry of Natural Persons between February 2025 and January 2026.
The decision seeks to protect property rights and avoid future legal conflicts related to assets and inheritances.
What does a de facto union imply?
Cohabitation is the free and voluntary union between a man and a woman without a marital bond between them, which has lasted at least two continuous years, with purposes and duties similar to marriage.
Unlike marriage, where you can choose between community property or separation of property, in a de facto union the community property regime is unique and mandatory. That is, the assets and income obtained during the period of cohabitation belong to both in equal shares.
Once registered with Sunarp, inheritance rights are automatically generated between the cohabitants.
Regions with the most registrations
The regions with the highest number of registrations were:
- Lime: 1 416
- Arequipa: 573
- Freedom: 448
- Fist: 282
- Cajamarca: 193
- Ancash: 167
How to register a cohabitation?
The process begins before a notary public and requires:
- Application signed by both cohabitants recognizing cohabitation for a minimum of two years.
- Declaration of not having a marriage impediment.
- Domiciliary certificate (same address).
- Negative Certificate of De facto Union.
- Statement of two witnesses.
- Documents that prove the two years of continuous coexistence.
The notary publishes an extract of the request and, after 15 business days without opposition, issues the public deed that is sent to the Sunarp Personal Registry.
Cost
- Registration in Sunarp: S/ 26.40
- Notarial expenses: They vary depending on the notary.
It is also possible to carry out recognition through judicial means through a final ruling.
