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The civil solidarity pact (Pacs) is a contract. It is concluded between 2 adults, of different sexes or the same sex, to organize their life together. They commit to a shared life and to mutual material aid and assistance.

To register their joint declaration of Pacs, the partners must go

either to the town hall of the commune of their common residence*, since November 1, 2017
or to the notary of their choice
or to the competent French consulate if the partners have their common residence abroad.
*The “common residence” must be understood as being the main residence of the interested parties on the day the PACS is registered (Owned, rented, accommodated by a third party). It cannot be a second home. The partners declare their common address by means of a sworn statement.

False declarations may incur criminal liability. When the residence requirement is not justified, the Registrar of Civil Status issues a decision of inadmissibility based on his territorial incompetence.

The conditions to be met by future partners:

• be of legal age (the foreign partner must have reached the age of majority set by his or her country)
• not already be married or in a civil partnership
• not have any direct family ties with each other (mother-in-law and son-in-law, father-in-law and daughter-in-law, brothers and sisters, uncles and nieces, etc.
• have their main residence together in the city.

The file must be submitted with the original documents to the Etat-Civil department (except on Saturdays). When your file is complete, you will be given an appointment with the department to register your PACS.

Registration of PACS
PACS registrations are carried out on Tuesday afternoons between 2pm and 4pm. No ceremony is held for the conclusion of a PACS.

The partners must appear personally and together before the Civil Status Officer on the day of the PACS declaration, with an original and valid ID.

The Civil Status Officer will proceed with the registration of your PACS and will give you a registration receipt. He or she will return your agreement to you after signing it. The Pacs agreement takes effect as soon as it is registered at the town hall. The Mairie will not keep a copy of your Pacs agreement. It is your responsibility to keep it in a safe place and to take all necessary steps to avoid losing it.

The agent at the Mairie is not authorized to give you advice on the elements of your Pacs agreement. You can seek advice from a notary.

The Pacs will appear as a marginal mention on the birth certificate of each partner.

What are the effects of a Pacs?
The Pacs requires certain obligations of the partners set out in the agreement or in law:

– Mutual material aid and assistance
– Solidarity for debts contracted for everyday needs
It also implies rights :
– The choice between the regime of separation of assets and the regime of indivision
– The joint declaration of income from the year of conclusion of the Pacs
– The payment of a death benefit as well as the possibility of living in the joint dwelling after the death of one of the two.

Notice “We’re here to help”

CERFA “Déclaration conjointe d’un pacte civil de solidarité”

CERFA – Convention Type

The dissolution of the PACS must be registered by the authority that registered the PACS: the commune of registration, the notary. For PACS concluded before November 01, 2017 at the commune of the Tribunal de Grande Instance.

A PACS can be dissolved:

By marriage of one of the partners
By death of one of the partners
By joint declaration of the partners
By unilateral decision of one of the two
Dissolution by death or marriage of one of the partners
You have no steps to take. The town hall of birth will inform the authority that registered the Pacs. The latter will dissolve the Pacs. Dissolution of the Pacs takes effect on the date of marriage or death.

Dissolution by joint declaration of the partners
The partner who decides to terminate the civil solidarity pact serves notice on the other partner by bailiff. Without delay, the bailiff delivers or sends by registered mail a copy of the served document to the town hall or notary who served it. Dissolution of the Pacs takes effect on the date of registration. After verification, the Registrar registers the dissolution of the Pacs and returns it, endorsed and signed, to the partners by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

Documents to print for a joint dissolution
Notice “We’re here to help”

CERFA “Déclaration conjointe de dissolution de PACS”

During the entire term of the PACS, the partners may modify the provisions of the agreement they have entered into. The amending agreement takes effect between the partners as soon as it is registered. The modification of the agreement must be registered by the authority that registered the PACS: the commune of registration, the notary.

For PACS concluded before November 1, 2017, the agreement can be modified at the Etat-Civil of the commune attached to the Tribunal de Grande Instance.

The new agreement can be sent by registered mail or deposited at the town hall.

Sending the agreement by post
By registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt
The agreement is signed by both partners

The partners attend the town hall in person
– Without appointment, during normal opening hours of the Etat-Civil department (except Saturdays).
– An original, valid form of identification must be presented.
– A partner may appear alone before the Registrar (agreement signed by both partners).

The modification of the Pacs agreement takes effect on the date of its registration. After verification, the Registrar registers the amended Pacs agreement and returns it, endorsed and signed, to the partners by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

Documents to print for amending the agreement

Notice “We’re here to help”

CERFA “Déclaration conjointe de modification de PACS”

CERFA “Convention modificative type de pacte civil de solidarité (PACS)”