Certificate of common life or cohabitation
Verified 28 October 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Do you live in a common-law relationship (with a person of the opposite sex or the same sex) and you need to prove it with certain organizations in order to benefit from rights or benefits? You can provide a certificate of common life (or cohabitation). However, city councils are not obliged to issue it.
The certificate of common-law or cohabitation makes it possible to prove that you live in a common-law relationship.
It is requested by some organizations to allow you to benefit from certain rights or advantages.
You can request this certificate from the city hall regardless of your nationality if you live in France.
It's delivered by city councils, but they don't have to.
This document has no legal value (unlike a marriage certificate, for example).
You must check with your city hall if it issues this certificate.
If your city hall issues this document
The pieces to be provided vary according to town halls.
In general, you will need to submit the following supporting documents:
- Identity documents (ID card, passport)
- Proof of domicile (electricity bill, rent receipt...) to your 2 names at your common address (or 2 individual documents bearing the same address)
Your presence at all 2 may be required. Certifications from major witnesses (non-relatives of cohabiting partners) are sometimes required.
The certificate is free.
The delivery period varies according to the municipalities.
If the city hall doesn't issue this document
You must present organizations with a declaration of honor signed by the two concubines.
You can use the following document template:
No, no action is required to have the cohabitation certificate canceled.
Cohabitation
Justification of identity, marital status, family status, French nationality and domicile