Suriname's Nieuw Burgerlijk Wetboek, also called the NBW, contains eight books covering persons and family law, legal entities, property, inheritance, rights in property, obligations, special contracts, and traffic and transport. Transitional rules can affect matters that began under earlier legislation. The Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, or NBRv, governs civil proceedings and has applied since 1 May 2025. Civil-law matters include agreements, powers of attorney, payment and performance, breach of contract, termination, statutory interest, damages, unjust enrichment, security and suretyship. Written records and other evidence often determine whether a claim can be proved. Residential property sales require a written agreement. A natural person acting outside a profession or business generally has a three-day withdrawal period after receiving the contract copy for certain transactions made away from the seller's business premises. Property law covers ownership, co-ownership, usufruct, easements, ground lease, leasehold, superficies, apartments, pledges and mortgages. A transfer or creation of a right in registered property generally requires a valid legal title, a notarial deed and registration in the public registers. MI-GLIS provides cadastral and register information, including hypothecair uittreksel, parcel maps and PerceelsID, but it does not allocate state land. Applications for domeingrond are handled through the Domeinkantoor and the Ministry of Land Policy and Forest Management. MI-GLIS states that processing a grondhuur matter takes approximately 3 to 5 working days and that a completed transport deed takes about 9 working days after the signed deeds are submitted; notary, surveyor, tax and tariff costs can arise separately. The Burgerlijke Stand and the 44 CBB Bureaus voor Burgerzaken register births, deaths, marriages, acknowledgements, adoptions and divorces. CBB records and extracts are statutory evidence. A published extract or declaration costs SRD 5 per document. Foreign civil-status documents may require an apostille or legalisation and a sworn Dutch translation. Marriage registration normally involves a notice of intended marriage and at least a 14-day waiting period, although the Districtscommissaris may allow a different arrangement. Marriage generally begins at age 18; parental consent is required up to and including age 20, with possible replacement by the Kantonrechter. Family law also covers parental authority, guardianship, contact with a child, adoption, divorce and maintenance. The Kantonrechter handles divorce and related family proceedings. A divorce may be filed jointly or unilaterally on the ground of durable disruption of the marriage. Maintenance applications commonly require current civil-status records and, where relevant, income and expense evidence. The other party normally receives three weeks to respond, or five weeks when living abroad. BuFaZ, the state family-law office, supports court matters, protective measures, temporary placement and child-maintenance collection for children from birth to age 21. Inheritance law applies when property and debts pass to heirs at death. An heir can accept unconditionally, accept under the benefit of inventory, or reject the inheritance. Conduct without the required care can result in unconditional acceptance. A notarial will is central in many estate plans. A verklaring van erfrecht issued by a notary helps prove heirship to third parties, although it is not the only possible evidence. The boedelregister, the Kantonrechter and a notary can be involved in estate administration. The division or sale of registered property from an estate normally requires notarial work and registration with MI-GLIS. Liability can arise from an attributable unlawful act or breach of contract. A claim generally requires proof of the relevant conduct or breach, causation, attribution and loss. Recoverable loss can include property damage, lost profit and reasonable costs for prevention, defence or establishing liability. Contributory fault, benefits received and fairness can affect the amount. The NBW also contains specific liability rules for representatives, defective objects, buildings, animals and products. Affectieschade is regulated by S.B. 2025 no. 48. Limitation periods and objections depend on the claim and the applicable rules in Book 3. The Kantonrechter is the first-instance court for civil cases. The Hof van Justitie hears civil appeals. Civil sessions also take place in locations including Nieuw Nickerie, Brokopondo and Sipaliwini, Moengo and Marowijne. The Griffie manages court filings. A lawyer, authorised representative or party may appear depending on the procedure. A bailiff, called a gerechtsdeurwaarder, generally serves formal documents. The ordinary service period is at least one week at the court district, two weeks for several districts when the case is heard in Paramaribo, and four weeks for other districts; urgent proceedings can shorten the period. The court may seek a settlement, and a final settlement recorded in the required form can be enforceable. Urgent protection is available through kort geding. An appeal generally has to be filed within six weeks after judgment, with timely service completed. An appeal does not automatically suspend enforcement when the judgment is declared immediately enforceable. Enforcement normally requires an enforceable title or settlement and service by a bailiff. It can involve seizure of movable property, bank claims or registered property, followed by sale or eviction where permitted. Conservatory seizure generally requires court permission. Disputes about enforcement can be brought in kort geding. A residential tenancy dispute can first be submitted in writing to the Huurcommissie, which provides model contracts, rent guidance and advice on statutory termination and eviction periods. The Kantongerecht remains available afterward. Bureau Rechtszorg may arrange a pro bono lawyer for people with limited means after an assessment and a certificaat van onvermogen. The official regulation gives a decision period of 14 days, but court fees, bailiff charges and other case costs are not generally waived. Civil-law access and processing can differ between Paramaribo, the districts and the interior. Fees, forms, court practice and deadlines should be confirmed with the responsible Griffie, CBB office, Huurcommissie, MI-GLIS office or notary before filing.
Civil law in Suriname
Civil law in Suriname governs legal relationships between private persons and organisations, including contracts, property, family matters, inheritance, liability and debt enforcement. The main framework is the Nieuw Burgerlijk Wetboek, which has applied since 1 May 2025, together with the Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering for civil court proceedings. The relevant authority depends on the issue: CBB handles civil-status records, notaries and MI-GLIS handle many property and registration matters, and the Kantongerecht handles civil cases.
Tip
Start by classifying the problem: contract, property, family, inheritance, liability, tenancy or enforcement. That classification determines the right office, court, documents and deadlines. Preserve evidence early, verify current procedures and costs with the responsible Surinamese institution, and obtain professional help when property, children, inheritance or urgent enforcement is involved.