International Divorce Lawyers

Highly experienced and approachable

Chambers & Partners, 2019

If you're looking to divorce and you or your partner live or work - or have business interests, property or financial assets - in countries outside England and Wales, it is important to get advice and guidance from a specialist international family law team.

There are a number of factors that can make international divorce cases complex:

Family law varies greatly between countries
Choosing the right place to have your case heard can have a huge impact on the outcome of your divorce
Timing is crucial in international matters
Even if your divorce is processed in the UK, you may need to deal with multiple foreign legal systems to settle overseas assets and childcare arrangements

Our family law solicitors are experienced hands when it comes to international divorce. Our team includes a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), as well as a winner of the IAFL 2016 Award for Young Family Lawyers

We have led cases from countries all over the world, including Europe, the United Arab Emirates, North America, Japan, Singapore, Monaco and the British Virgin Islands. Our extensive network of foreign legal experts means you get the representation you need, wherever you need it.

Our team of family law experts can help you with international divorce advice in any of the following areas:

Orders concerning your children's care
Relocation of your children
Disputes over where you and your partner should get divorced
Financial claims that cover multiple jurisdictions
International pre- or post-nuptial agreements
Protecting your off-shore trusts and business interests
Your pension
Your property and real estate
Child abduction - where your child has been relocated without your consent
Tax and revenue implications arising from the international transfer of your funds and assets
Freezing assets to prevent them being dissipated or moved to another jurisdiction.

We are accredited by the independent legal guides Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500, and are widely considered to be one of the UK's leading international family law teams. With a wealth of experience dealing with high-profile international divorce cases, we promise to give you a no-nonsense, bespoke service to get you the best possible result.

If you'd like to find out more about the international family law services we offer, please call us on 0345 604 4911 or contact us online and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Mediation Support Service – 30-Minute Consultation

Family mediation can be a less confrontational and more cost-effective way to resolve a dispute. We offer a 30-minute consultation with one of our solicitors to discuss your situation and if mediation is right for you.

If you decide to go ahead with mediation, you can benefit from our cost effective mediation support service. This service will give you the advice, support and tools to get the best possible outcome – particularly if you’re representing yourself.

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Ros Bever National Head of Family Law Meet the team

Our Teams

International Divorce - More Information

"Ros Bever is an excellent lawyer who is passionate about getting things right."

Chambers & Partners, 2019

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Country Do We Have To Get Divorced In?

Choosing where to get a divorce is an important decision because the laws around separation - such as how to divide assets or arrange childcare - vary from country to country.

You may be able to choose where you get divorced, although this will depend on where you and your partner have your permanent home and where you currently live.

This area of law has seen significant legislative changes over recent years, and many cases have sought to challenge existing laws. For clear and definitive advice on this subject, it is best to speak to one of our international divorce law experts and explain your circumstances to them.

In any case of international divorce where the proceedings could take place in more than one country, speed is an important factor. If your spouse starts proceedings in one country, you may not be able to initiate them in another.

For more guidance and advice about your best options, call our international divorce solicitors today on 0345 604 4911 or contact us online and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

How Can I Protect Myself From Financial Claims In The Future?

Under UK law, you can protect yourself from future financial claims using a Clean Break Order. This means that both parties' financial claims against each other are dismissed so neither of them can bring any future claims against the other.

If you and your partner maintain some financial interactions after a divorce, such as child maintenance payments, however, these will remain open to future challenge.

If you are divorcing in another country, different laws will apply to making your financial settlement final, so it's important to seek expert legal advice.

For guidance on your specific circumstances, speak to our experienced international divorce law team today. We have dealt with many complex, multi-national divorces so you can be sure to get the best advice and support. Call us on 0345 604 4911 or contact us online and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

How Is Child Access And Custody Handled Internationally?

The law relating to the future care of your children will depend on where the children live. Where your divorce is filed may also be relevant. This area of the law is particularly complicated because families and children often move between countries, necessitating the involvement of competing legal jurisdictions.

Permission to relocate your children - or challenging abductions - will also depend on the law of a particular country. In any case with an international element where children are involved, it's important to get specific advice as soon as possible.

We've dealt with many cases of international child custody. For instance, we successfully secured the return of a child who had been retained in Malta by their father following a holiday there, after the Maltese government initially refused to return the child.

For help with any aspect of international child access or custody, call us today on 0345 604 4911 or contact us online and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

I live in Scotland, can Irwin Mitchell help me?

Our expert family law team works with a number of trusted partners to help our clients with family law issues in Scotland.

We’ll be your point of contact and manage the entire process for you throughout. You’ll get frequent progress updates and we’ll break down any legal jargon into plain English so you’re always in the loop.

To find out more about how we can help, give us a call on 0345 604 4911 or contact us online.

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The team are very approachable, available to answer questions and to offer support"

A High Level Of Service

They consistently endeavour to offer a high level of service to their clients"

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