Dating, courtship and intimacy in Bolivia are mainly informal, and expectations can vary by region, Indigenous identity, religion, and urban or rural setting. Bolivia has no national system for registering dating relationships. Formal recognition is available through matrimonio or unión libre, also called unión de hecho; a partner may be called conviviente, concubino or concubina. Both partners must freely consent to a shared life without deception, mistake or violence, and the general legal age for these relationships is 18. Marriage is registered through the Servicio de Registro Cívico, known as SERECÍ, or an authorised civil registry office. The published marriage procedure generally requires identity cards, current birth certificates, certificates showing freedom to marry, two adult witnesses who are not related to the couple, consent, and biometric electoral registration; published notices last five business days and the ceremony follows within a maximum of 15 calendar days. The published fees are Bs 401 for the standard procedure, Bs 221 for a death-risk procedure, Bs 51 for a duplicate certificate and Bs 41 for a family booklet. A unión libre can be registered jointly at SERECÍ, or one partner can begin the process alone; unilateral registration triggers publication and notification, giving the other partner 30 days to accept or reject it. A disputed, refused or posthumous registration may require judicial verification, while an Indigenous Originario Campesino authority may recognise the relationship under its own norms and notify SERECÍ. The current SERECÍ information lists procedures for unión libre but does not establish a current fee; an older Bs 200 tariff should not be treated as current. Same-sex couples can register a unión libre under Constitutional Court Decision 0577/2022 and TSE Resolution RSP-ADM 0175/2023, although the published marriage procedure is still worded in terms of a man and a woman. Marriage and registered unión libre require equal household decision-making, mutual respect for physical, psychological, sexual and emotional integrity, fidelity, assistance, mutual aid, contributions according to ability, shared care work and support when a partner cannot work; each partner retains the right to refuse sexual relations. Violence by a current or former partner can include physical, psychological and sexual violence. The FELCV, police emergency number 110, free line 800 14 0348, SLIM, SIJPLU, the Fiscalía and SEPDAVI provide different reporting, protection or support routes, and SEPDAVI can offer free legal, social and psychological assistance to victims without sufficient resources. A marriage or registered unión libre ends through death, presumed death, divorce or desvinculación, including judicial proceedings based on rupture of the shared-life project, mutual agreement or unilateral will. A notarial procedure is limited to mutual agreement, no children or only children older than 25, no registrable community property and an express waiver of family assistance; other disagreements generally require court proceedings. Divorce or desvinculación must be recorded with SERECÍ, so an updated certificate or status record matters when dealing with authorities or property claims.
Romantic relationship in Bolivia
Romantic relationships in Bolivia are usually formed through private dating and courtship, while marriage and unión libre provide formal legal recognition. Marriage and registered unión libre create the same legal effects in personal and property matters, including mutual support and shared household responsibilities. Registration improves proof of relationship status, property claims and dealings with public authorities.
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