Do you have an international aspect to your circumstances? Perhaps you are married to a foreign national, or that you live in the UK but you’re originally from another country, or you are a British citizen but you are living abroad, or simply that you married in another country?
If you need to better understand the divorce and family laws in countries across the globe, choose any country by clicking on the map below to read our guides.
Click on a country in the map to read our guide on divorce and family law for that country.
In Australia and New Zealand you won’t have to prove any fault on the part of either spouse when filing for divorce. Both countries operate a ‘no-fault’ divorce system, and both encourage you to reach agreement on child and financial issues out of court…
If you are looking for a divorce in Austria, then the rules are different to some other European countries. Austria still offers an ‘at fault’ divorce option, and this can have an effect on the division of assets and maintenance once your marriage has broken down…
The divorce laws in Bangladesh are based on Sharia law. This means that family law is linked to Islamic traditions, but laws also require divorces to be formally registered…
The laws for divorce in Belgium differ from other countries in Europe and put the welfare of the child at the centre of any proceedings. So how does the divorce process work in relation to Belgium? How are any property or assets divided on divorce? And what are the child custody laws in Belgium? Here we provide answers to these questions and more…
Divorce in Brazil is a relatively new development, as it only became legal in the country in 1977. There have been various amendments to the divorce laws since then, and it is now possible to obtain a divorce in some cases without going through a court procedure…
If you want a divorce in the USA or Canada, then much will depend on where you live. Laws which govern divorce in the USA and Canada are largely determined by state and provincial governments, rather than the federal government…
Divorce laws in the Czech Republic are similar to those in other continental European countries. There is a ‘no-fault’ option when you both agree on the divorce and associated matters, although courts can make orders regarding children and property if required…
Divorce in Denmark can be achieved through agreement, through a period of separation, or on a range of different grounds…
Read our comprehensive guides to divorce and family law. Our guides cover all aspects of divorce, finances and settlements, children issues, and pre/post nuptial agreements…
Divorce in France is governed by the French Civil Code. There are four main ways in which you can divorce, with the most common being ‘mutual consent’ divorces and ‘at fault’ divorces…
Germany operates a system of ‘no-fault’ divorce. This means that when a court is satisfied that your marriage has irretrievably broken down, it will grant your divorce. Courts in Germany do have limited powers over agreeing a financial settlement on divorce…
The divorce laws in Gibraltar are very similar to those in England. And, while Gibraltar is not a member of the European Union, it has adopted a number of EU regulations to ensure that rules are consistent…
Greece is similar to many European countries in that it offers two types of divorce: through mutual consent and through a contested procedure. Here we discuss divorce in Greece, the child custody laws in Greece following divorce, and how your assets will be divided after you divorce…
With more than 1.3 billion inhabitants, India is one of the world’s most populous countries. With dozens of languages and customs, there are several laws relating to marriage and divorce depending on culture, religion and location…
Divorce laws in Iran were changed in the late 1970s, but a large rise in the divorce rate in the country has led to recent changes which make ending your marriage more difficult…
Divorce in Ireland is a recent development. After a referendum on the subject in 1995, divorce was only made legal in Ireland in November 1996 through a constitutional amendment. The grounds for divorce in Ireland are quite strict, and so many couples choose ‘judicial separation’ as an alternative way of ending their marriage…
Divorce law in Israel is different to many other countries. In Israel, two parallel courts have the authority to deal with divorce issues: the Rabbinical Court and the Family Court. So, how do you get a divorce? What happens to your children? And how is your property divided when your marriage ends?…
Divorce is a relatively recent development in Italy and has only been legal since 1970. There have been several amendments to the laws since then, and now you must normally go through a period of legal separation before you divorce…
There is technically only one ground for divorce in Jamaica: namely that your marriage has irretrievably broken down. So, how does divorce work in regards to Jamaica? What happens to your children? And how is your property divided when your marriage ends?…
If you’re looking to get a divorce in Japan then you can end your marriage by agreement, through mediation or through a judicial process…
The divorce laws in Latvia offer the option of a simple, administrative divorce if you can agree on a range of issues with your ex-spouse. If you can’t agree, you will have to go through the family court procedure…
Divorce in Lithuania can be a straightforward process if both of you agree to the divorce as well as the arrangements for child custody and splitting your finances. If you don’t agree, then you may will have to go through a judicial process which can result in the person at fault for the end of your marriage losing any right to maintenance…
Until the mid-1960s a ‘Mexican divorce’ was seen as a quick and easy way to end your marriage, particularly for US citizens. Times have changed, and Mexico now offers a ‘no-fault’ divorce option, although the laws do differ slightly across Mexico’s 30 different state jurisdictions…
Marriage and divorce law in Morocco is built around the Moudawana. This family code has been in existence since the 1950s and it governs marriage, divorce, child custody, maintenance and the division of assets. Read more…
In New Zealand and Australia you won’t have to prove any fault on the part of either spouse when filing for divorce. Both countries operate a ‘no-fault’ divorce system, and both encourage you to reach agreement on child and financial issues out of court…
The divorce laws in Nigeria are primarily arranged on a ‘no-fault’ basis under the Matrimonial Causes Act. However, laws around what happens to your children after divorce and the split of any property differ from other countries…
The rules governing divorce in Norway are different to some other European countries. For example, in order to gain a divorce there must typically be a period of legal separation, and spousal maintenance after you divorce is rare…
Pakistan is a diverse country, and more than a dozen laws oversee marriage and divorce issues. Read our guide to find out more about divorce laws in Pakistan, how financial settlements work and who gets custody of children…
Marriage is a significant and formal institution in Poland, so it’s perhaps no surprise that the divorce procedure is equally formal and requires a court to be involved…
In line with many European countries, Romania offers both a divorce by mutual consent and a contested divorce. Child custody matters are at the centre of any divorce agreement, while the court also has powers to divide your assets. Romania is also unusual in that it provides protection for a fiancé in the event of an engagement being ended…
Russia has some of the world’s most liberal family laws and the divorce rate in the country is high compared to other nations. Getting a divorce in Russia can take no more than a few weeks and you can sometimes end your marriage in a single court procedure. However, a contested divorce can negatively impact you if you’re the ‘weaker’ party in financial terms when you divorce…
Singapore operates a two-step divorce process. Firstly, the court will deal with the divorce itself, and in the second stage associated issues such as child custody and division of assets will be considered…
Unlike many other European countries, Slovakia does not offer a ‘no-fault’ divorce option. If you want to divorce in Slovakia you will have to provide reasons to end your marriage, and the court will review your individual case and look at all the factors when ruling on your divorce…
South Africa has a ‘no fault’ system of divorce. This means that you can get divorced if your marriage has irretrievably broken down without apportioning blame to the other party. As divorce laws in South Africa are different to other countries, this guide tells you what you need to know…
Divorce in Spain follows some of the same procedures as divorces in other European countries. Here we cover various areas relating to divorce in Spain, including the grounds for divorce, how financial settlements work and how child custody is determined…
The divorce laws in Sri Lanka are almost entirely based on ‘fault’. There are three main grounds for divorce, and the requirement to prove these strict grounds is partly the reason why it can be difficult to get a divorce in Sri Lanka…
The divorce laws in Sweden are governed by the marriage code. The country operates a ‘no-fault’ divorce system, and the law is designed to achieve a clean break at the end of your marriage…
Although many of Turkey’s citizens are Muslims, divorce laws in Turkey are based on a civil code rather than on Sharia principles. While its divorce laws are broadly in line with other Western democracies, Turkey is not a member of the European Union and so EU regulations don’t apply…
If you want to get a divorce then the law that applies will depend on whether you are a Muslim resident of the UAE. Courts in the UAE apply Sharia law for Muslims but can apply your country’s ‘home’ law if you’re a non-Muslim couple…
Divorce in Ukraine is generally obtained through the courts, although it can be done without a judicial process in certain circumstances…
If you want a divorce in the USA or Canada, then much will depend on where you live. Laws which govern divorce in the USA and Canada are largely determined by state and provincial governments, rather than the federal government…
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