International Divorce Lawyers

It's a top-tier firm.

Chambers & Partners, 2023

If you’re getting divorced and live or work outside the UK, it’s important you have an experienced international divorce lawyer. They'll help to protect any connections, business interests, or financial assets you may have abroad.

Even if you get divorced in the UK, international divorces can mean dealing with several foreign legal systems. Arrangements for children, including where they live, can also be very complicated.

Our family lawyers understand the pain and frustration any divorce can bring. We have regular specialist training on international family law. We also have a track record of successfully representing clients all over the world.

We're a member of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Our global connections with lawyers and relevant networks mean we can handle all elements of an international divorce. We can also take on the wider legal issues. This is why so many of our clients are happy to recommend us.

We’re particularly experienced in complex divorces involving significant assets.

These assets could include:

Business interests
Stocks and shares
Pensions (both here and abroad)
Investments
Property
Investment accounts or savings.

If you and/or your ex-partner have any of these, you need a legal team that can guide you through the complexities of an international divorce. Our team works for high-net worth individuals every day, so we know how to get the best result for you.

Our many years of handling divorces means we know how distressing they can be. That's why we offer a counselling service. Talking to a professional counsellor can help you to look after your mental health. In the meantime, we’ll be working to get the settlement that’s best for you.

Expert Ros Bever discusses the international divorce process in more detail.

Contact us

If you need expert advice on international divorce, call us today. You’ll be able to speak to an expert about your circumstances and get the most appropriate advice on how to proceed.

If you’d rather, you can contact us online and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Strong connections with divorce lawyers worldwide

Accredited international family law specialists

Experienced in working across many international jurisdictions

In-house counselling service

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0370 1500 100

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Clare Wiseman Family Partner and Head of International Family Law Meet the team

Our Teams

International Divorce - More Information

They have great expertise and are always there to explain things."

Chambers & Partners, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

Why choose us?

We have a dedicated team of family law experts who are highly experienced in working internationally.

They take part in specialist training and work with specialist counsel at the forefront of international family law. This ensures they’re up to date with the latest legal developments.

Our team includes a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. We also have accredited Resolution Specialists in International Family Law and an inhouse International Family Law Team of Excellence. This means we have lawyers with expertise in international issues are on hand to deal with cases and provide training to other lawyers.

Our team is friendly and approachable, with a genuine understanding of the stress and upset divorce can cause. We’re especially aware of how difficult it can be if it involves children. We’ll treat your case as a unique situation and handle it with professionalism and sensitivity.

We understand that international cases involve actions outside normal UK office hours. To meet the needs of our international clients and to accommodate different time zones, we make ourselves available for you.

While we aren’t able to offer legal aid, we can still signpost you to help if appropriate.

Our international connections

We have international connections and working relationships with lawyers all over the world. We’re connected to several international networks, including the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and Avrio Advocati and First Law International. We’d handle the English law side of the divorce, while a relevant connection would work on the international side.

We’re experienced in working in many international jurisdictions. These include but aren’t limited to:

Canada
USA
Ireland
Scotland
France
Spain
Italy
Germany
India
South Africa
Belgium
UAE
Israel
Kenya
Sweden
Tunisia
Australia
Singapore.

Our in-house counselling service

We understand that getting divorced can be very distressing. It signals an enormous change in your life and can leave you feeling very lost. Divorce can be especially difficult if it involves child custody or financial issues.

It’s normal to feel anxious, lonely, or confused when such a significant relationship ends. That’s why we offer our own in-house counselling service. Talking about your feelings to a professional counsellor can help to ease the stress of divorce. This helps to ensure you’re looking after your mental health while we handle the legal side of things.

How long do international divorces take to settle?

International divorces often take longer than regular divorce cases. The issues involved in settling an international divorce can be more complicated.

It’s common for more than one jurisdiction to be involved. This means that several lawyers need to work across these jurisdictions, which make matters more complex.

An international divorce might need to consider factors like immigration and tax. These issues can lengthen the process and several proceedings may be needed.

Practical matters like arranging meetings across different time zones can also delay things. With such a large international team, we can handle these hurdles without difficulty.

However long your international divorce takes to settle, we’ll be with you every step of the way. We've an experienced team of international lawyers who’ll deal with any issues you come across.

What if we can’t agree on where the international divorce should take place?

If you can’t agree on where your divorce will take place, you should speak to one of our legal experts straight away.

If you can’t agree a location with your ex-partner, a preliminary dispute may need to take place. This is commonly known as a “forum dispute”.

The English Courts will consider which country is best to handle your divorce by using the “forum non-conveniens” test. This decides which court is best for the divorce to take place, considering your family and their finances.

Awards & Accreditations

We're always proud to be recognised for the work we do for our clients and have been named as a leading firm in the latest legal guides - which provide information and recommendations about lawyers and law firms in the UK.

What Our Clients Say

We truly value and appreciate the feedback we receive from our clients, as we look to improve the services we offer on an ongoing basis.

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