Ektepakt: Norwegian marital property agreement

An ektepakt is a Norwegian agreement between spouses concerning property arrangements that depart from the statutory default. Such agreements are recorded in the Register of Marriage Settlements administered by Brønnøysundregistrene. When reviewing a deceased estate, set aside any possible ektepakt for clarification before selling or distributing affected objects.

Find the complete document

The registry's online search requires login and the personal identity number of the person concerned. Results show registration but do not disclose the entire agreement. A copy can be ordered by contacting Brønnøysundregistrene. Older registrations may require direct contact, and deleted agreements do not appear in the search. An empty online result should therefore not be the only check.

Reviewing household belongings

Keep the document together with any attachments. Practical example: If an agreement mentions a particular silver service, note this in the object inventory and set the service aside until its significance is clarified. Do not decide ownership from the document's heading alone. Ask a legal adviser about interpretation and inheritance implications. A financial appraisal of the service answers a different question from who may dispose of it.

After a death

Brønnøysundregistrene states that deletion from the register following a death requires the estate to have been settled. Do not treat the document as redundant simply because a spouse has died.

This is general information about Norway, sources checked on 2 November 2026. Consult the official ektepakt guidance. Once ownership and authority have been established, request an OBA inspection of the household contents.