echtgenoten

Echtgenoten is the Dutch term for the spouses in a marriage. The word is used to refer to both partners collectively; the singular forms are echtgenoot for a male spouse and echtgenote for a female spouse. The plural echtgenoten denotes the married couple as a unit.

Etymology: the term combines echt, meaning true or legitimate, withgenoot, meaning companion. In Dutch legal and everyday language, echtgenoten describes the partners recognized by civil law in a marriage, regardless of gender.

Legal status and rights: In most jurisdictions, marriage creates a legal partnership with certain rights and duties between the partners. These commonly include mutual support and care, joint decision-making on family matters, and shared responsibility for debts and property. Spouses may have special rights in areas such as inheritance, succession, and social security benefits, depending on the law of the country.

Property regimes: Many legal systems regulate how property is owned by married couples. Some allow spouses to keep separate property; others establish a community of property. In the Netherlands, the default matrimonial regime since 2018 is separation of property, but couples can arrange a different regime through huwelijkse voorwaarden, including limited or full community of goods.

Usage and distinctions: The term emphasizes the unit of the married couple and is commonly used in legal texts, official forms, and media. It is distinct from terms for non-married partners or civil unions, such as registered partners. See also: Huwelijk, Echtgenoot, Echtgenote, Huwelijkse voorwaarden.