yhteisomaisuudesta

Yhteisomaisuudesta refers to a property regime in Finnish family law that governs how assets and debts are owned and distributed between spouses or registered partners. It describes property that is treated as belonging to the couple as a unit and that is typically divided between them if the relationship ends through divorce or death, unless otherwise arranged.

In Finland, the default regime for marriages and registered partnerships is that property acquired during the relationship belongs to both partners as yhteisomaisuus. Each partner has an equal ownership share and the right to manage the joint property, though major decisions such as selling real estate or taking on large debts usually require the consent of both partners. Personal property, gifts or inheritances given to one partner, and property acquired before the relationship or with separate funds may be considered erillinen omaisuus (private property) and thus excluded from the community estate.

The regime can be altered by an avioehto (marital agreement), in which partners may choose to convert to a separate-property regime or specify how assets should be divided in the event of dissolution. Similar principles apply to registered partnerships.

When a relationship ends, yhteisomaisuus is divided through ositus in accordance with applicable rules, generally aiming for an equitable distribution between the partners while taking into account debts, children’s needs, and any private property that remains outside the joint estate.

The concept is a cornerstone of Finnish family law, providing a framework for property ownership and division within marriages and registered partnerships.