Not necessarily. A recent ruling by the Portuguese Court of Appeal of Coimbra helps explain why.

In a case involving an unmarried couple, one partner paid the property expenses, while the other covered family living costs, including expenses related to their children.

The court considered that it would be unfair to look only at the property payments and demand reimbursement without taking into account how both partners contributed to the household.

This does not mean that compensation can never be claimed. Each case must be assessed in its full context, considering the contributions made by both partners and how their shared assets were built.

In a de facto relationship, the financial picture goes beyond bank statements.

*This information is of a general and abstract nature. Therefore, any decisions regarding these matters should be made with the support of qualified professionals and assessed on a case-by-case basis. Should you require further clarification on this topic, please contact us at soc.advogados@magnaadvogados.pt.