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From x-ray magnetic circular dichroism experiments performed at low temperature on Cr 2 AlC and Cr 2 GeC thin films, it is evidenced that Cr atoms carry a net magnetic moment in these ternary phases. It is shown that the Cr magnetization of the Al-based compound nearly vanished at 100 K in agreement with what has been recently observed on bulk. X-ray linear dichroism measurements performed at various angles of incidence and temperatures clearly demonstrate the existence of a charge ordering along the c axis of the structure of Cr 2 AlC. All these experimental observations support, in part, theoretical calculations claiming that Cr dd correlations have to be considered to correctly describe the structure and properties of these Cr-based ternary phases.