Specialist international divorce advice for British expats and people who married abroad.
If you are originally from England and Wales but now live abroad, you may be eligible to divorce in England.
- Using the English courts is often quicker, cheaper, and less complicated than divorce through a foreign court
- The process is simple and rarely requires you to return to the UK
How we help
Our lawyers can offer advice on international and expat divorce issues including:
- How to get a divorce in the UK
- Advice on issues of jurisdiction
- Whether you would be eligible for an expat divorce
- International relocation of children or ‘leave to remove’ (as it is sometimes called)
Divorce advice for UK expats
If you are a British expat living abroad and wish to get divorced in the UK, our experienced international divorce solicitors can help. We are happy to work with you over the phone, via email and through videoconferencing and can ensure all the necessary paperwork is filed with the appropriate English divorce court. We can also advise on dealing with issues such as arrangements for children and finances, taking into consideration your circumstances.
Getting divorced in the UK if you married abroad
If you married abroad, but you and your spouse are both habitually resident or domiciled in England or Wales, then you will likely be eligible to have your divorce dealt with through the English court system. If only one of you is based in England or Wales, then you may still be eligible to divorce here.
Getting divorced in the UK if your spouse lives abroad
As long as you are habitually resident in England or Wales, you will usually be able to initiate divorce proceedings in an English or Welsh court. Our international divorce lawyers can advise you on whether this option is open to you and guide you through the entire process, as well as advising on how your spouse living abroad may impact issues such as division of matrimonial finances and arrangements for children.
You may need expat divorce advice if:
- You are originally from England or Wales but currently live in another part of the world and want to use the English Courts to obtain a divorce
- Your marriage took place abroad
- You have lived outside the UK for many years, have only recently returned and want to divorce in England
- You and/or your spouse are from outside the UK, have made your home in England or Wales and choose to divorce in England
- Your spouse lives outside the UK, and there may be issues in tracing them or debate about where to get divorced
There may be other circumstances where an ‘expat divorce’ or international divorce law applies. There are some complex legal issues to consider, so it is always best to take advice from an experienced international divorce solicitor familiar with divorce issues across jurisdictions.
Call now
Take advantage of a free 30-minute telephone appointment to talk through your situation. Call +44 (0)1789 330310 and we will explain your options and how we can help.
