Family in Paraguay

Paraguayan families may be formed through a registered marriage, a stable public and exclusive union, or parent-child and extended-family relationships that provide care and support. Indigenous communities may follow their own social organization rules when these comply with constitutional rights. The Registro del Estado Civil, under the Ministerio de Justicia, records marriages, births and deaths. A marriage application generally requires identity cards, four witnesses and, where relevant, birth, death or divorce records; foreign documents may need apostille or legalization. Fees follow the current REC tariff, and ceremonies outside the office or on non-working days may have additional charges that should be checked directly. A unión de hecho is a stable, public and exclusive partnership without legal marriage impediments. After four years of shared life, community property rules apply. After ten years, the partners can make a joint declaration before the REC or a Juzgado de Paz, which can give the union effects equivalent to marriage, including inheritance rights. Living together without this recognition has weaker legal effects. Birth registration takes place through the REC using the medical birth certificate and identity documents. A child born within marriage can also be registered with the marriage certificate or family record book. For a child born outside marriage, both parents can make a joint declaration, or the mother can register the child alone; the father’s details require recognition. Home births may require witnesses and residence or sworn statements. The first registration and first birth certificate are free, while late or unusual cases may require an additional procedure. All children have equal legal status, and paternity can be recognized, challenged or established through DNA proceedings. Parents owe minor children food, housing, clothing, education, medical care and recreation. A pregnant woman may claim support from the child’s father for pregnancy and birth costs. Adult children may owe support to parents who cannot meet their needs. The Civil Code considers spouses first, then parents and children, followed by siblings, grandparents and other ascendants, and then parents-in-law and children-in-law. Contributions should reflect the parties’ means and needs. The Código de la Niñez y la Adolescencia gives priority to the best interests of the child. Juzgados de la Niñez y la Adolescencia, Defensorías de la Niñez, Fiscalía, Policía and local CODENI offices handle protection, residence, contact and support matters. Free mediation through the Dirección de Mediación of the Corte Suprema can address child support, changes to support, contact arrangements, parentage and custody; an agreement becomes usable as a legal arrangement after homologation. Divorce is granted by a court, including by mutual consent, and can address parental care, living arrangements, contact, support and division of marital property. For violence against women, SOS Mujer 137 is free, confidential and available nationwide 24 hours a day. It can connect a caller with the Policía or 911, a police station, Fiscalía or a Juzgado de Paz. SEDAMUR and regional women’s centres provide legal, psychological and social assistance, including shelter for women with children. Fono Ayuda 147 is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day for concerns about children; MINNA coordinates with CODENI, the Defensoría, courts, Fiscalía, Policía, MSPBS, MEC and MinMujer. When children cannot safely remain with their family, Ley 6486/2020 prioritizes family preservation and reunification. Authorities consider extended family, a close affectionate environment, an accredited foster family, residential shelter and institutional care in that order. Lack of money alone is not a reason to separate a child. Temporary custody or foster care is judicially supervised; urgent hearings can occur within six hours, emergency measures can last up to seven days, and certain referrals or decisions must occur within 24 hours. Adoption is exceptional and requires a final adoptability decision after efforts to locate relatives and preserve relationships. The Centro de Adopciones of MINNA accredits applicants and proposes placements, while a court decides. National adoption has priority, and the stated age difference for applicants is 25 to 60 years. Death registration generally takes place through the REC within 24 hours with a medical death certificate and identity documents. If no medical certificate exists, two witnesses may be required. Registration and a cemetery certificate are free, although foreign and special cases may require a court order. Access to offices and services differs by department, and official sources do not establish one uniform total cost or processing time for all family procedures. Informal support from extended family is practically significant, but its legal effect may require recognition, custody arrangements or a court decision.