Family Law Services | International Family Law Expat Divorce Specialists
International Expat family law and divorce is a very specialist field – we keep ahead of the changes and understand the local practicalities of expat life – we have the experience and knowledge to assist you where ever you are.
The following apply to expat clients:
We provide advice on all kinds of family law issues, for married or separated expats, those preparing to marry, and those wishing to protect their assets and children.
Contact us now for a an initial consultation via telephone, video conferencing, Skype or in person.
We provide expert advice to British families living in the UAE on a wide range of family and children disputes.
Generally speaking, it is the Dubai courts who deal with family matters if the respondent to an application is domiciled, resident, or working in Dubai. If this isn’t the case, but the applicant is domiciled or resident in Dubai, the courts may still oversee applications for divorce or maintenance. This policy applies to expatriates and Emirati nationals alike.
We are the only law firm in this niche area who has in house expertise in dealing with cases from the UAE (especially Dubai) and have worked the Dubai and UAE Courts for many years. Our lawyers are fluent in Arabic and can explain your Court papers to you and guide you through each step.
We represent clients residing in or with connections to Dubai and the greater UAE with regard to English legal proceedings.
We help clients in the following areas:
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Only one codified family law currently applies in Bahrain : The Legislative Decree No. (19) 2009 (The ‘Family Law’) which only applies to Muslims, whose marriages have been performed under the Sunni sect.
Non-Muslim expat residents in Bahrain can only begin an application for divorce at the Bahrain Civil Courts. If the Bahraini Courts are to establish jurisdiction, then the Court will apply the laws that govern the nationality of the parties (in general this will be the husband). This involves legalising documents and translating them into Arabic, a very costly and timely procedure.
Expat Divorce in Bahrain
We specialise in Divorce and family issues for British expats living in Bahrain. If you are unsure whether to divorce in Bahrain or in the UK, please contact us today. You can divorce or use the Courts of the UK if you have connections to the UK, it does not have to be in the Country you married.
In Kuwait, numerous laws govern family disputes, including Peronal Status, The Family Court, Kuwaiti Nationality and Visa Laws. Expatriates seeking divorces in Kuwait are elgible to use the Kuwaiti courts.
In accordance with Law No. 5 (1961) regulating the Legal Relations having Foreign Element’, foreign laws may be applied by the Kuwaiti courts in family matters that involve expatriates. Different laws will be applied to different disputes.
This means that for a British expatriate couple living in Kuwait, it may be possible to apply English divorce laws within the Kuwaiti courts. However, when one spouse is Kuwaiti, only Kuwaiti law may apply.
Maintenance, alimony claims, child custody disputes involving expats in Kuwait, it is important to note that if the father is Kuwaiti, then Kuwaiti law will be applied.
Expat Divorce in Kuwait
If you are considering a divorce or separation, and you are an expat living in Kuwait, knowing where to start can seem daunting. It’s worth knowing that your divorce does not have to take place in the country in which you were married. If you or your spouse were born in England, or have you have English connections, you may be able to process your divorce through the English courts.
It is highly recommended that expatriates seeking advice on divorce or child custody in Kuwait, should seek assistance from a local attorney in Kuwait, as well as an attorney from their home country. We assist with local counsel in Kuwait on many matters.
The Muslim Family Law Ordinance (1961) is the law that largely governs divorce in Pakistan. It outlines the grounds and procedures that Muslims have to follow in order to divorce in the country. A husband can divorce his wife simply by pronouncing the Talaq.
Pakistani residents with connections to another country (like the UK) should carefully consider their best options re the jurisdication for their divorce. If you or your spouse own a property in England, have lived in England, or have connections there, you may be able to seek a divorce or make financial claims through the English courts.
Expat Divorce in Pakistan
If you are considering a divorce or separation, and you’re a British expat living in Pakistan knowing where to start or which laws will apply to you can seem daunting. It’s worth knowing that your divorce does not have to take place in the country in which you were married. If you or your spouse were born in England or have English connections, you may be able to process your divorce through the English courts.
We have a sister company in Islamabad that assists us with our cases and a dedicated team who are also qualified from the UK- they also can handle all Pakistani local cases, whilst we assist on the international expatriates with connections to the UK.
We are Sharia law experts and can advise on the following:
Both Muslim and non-Muslim expatrates can divorce through the Qatari courts. The Qatari Family Law 22 (2006) governs divorces of Muslim expats. Non-Muslim expatriates can apply for divorce under the laws of their home country within the Qatari courts. When using foreign laws, the husband’s nationality at the time of the marriage will form the basis of these laws, to be applied to the divorce, and to the surrounding financial disputes.
Where foreign laws cannot be applied to Muslims, or non-Muslim couples the relevant Family Law 22 (2006 ) statutory provisions will be applied to divorce and family law matters in the Qatari courts. The Qatari courts have no legal right to make orders against any foreign assets including bank accounts, pensions or property.
Expat Divorce in Qatar
If you are considering a divorce or separation and you’re a British expat living in Qatar knowing where to start and understanding the laws that will apply to you can seem a daunting task. It’s worth knowing that your divorce does not have to take place in the country in which you were married. If you or your spouse were born in England, or you have English connections, you may be able to divorce via the English courts.
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If you have not lived in Singapore for three years, you should seek legal advice to determine whether you are ‘domiciled’ there. Under Singapore law you will generally have to be a Singapore resident and intend to remain there permanently to be considered domiciled there.
Expatriates can only divorce in Singapore if they have been married for at least three years. This differs from English divorce law, where couples who are separating need only be married for one year before they can divorce.
If uncontested (i.e. each party is in agreement), a divorce in Singapore generally takes around five to six months from the date of filing to the granting of a final judgement.
Singapore is a signatory to the Hague Convention on child abduction. Therefore, if an expat parent relocates to another Hague signatory country (such as England, France etc), the left behind parent may seek orders for the child’s return to Singapore.
Expat Divorce in Singapore
If you considering divorce or separation and you are a British expat living in Singapore knowing where to start and understanding the laws that will apply to you can seem daunting. It’s worth knowing that your divorce does not have to take place in the country in which you were married. If you or your spouse were born in England, or have English connections, you may be able to divorce via the English courts.
Sharia law is the divine law in Islam, and is the foundation for the laws in Oman. Divorce in this country is regulated by the Personal Status Law pronounced by Royal Decree Number 32/97, a law that differentiates between Muslim and non-Muslim expats.
Under Article 82 of the Personal Status Law, Muslim husbands are permitted to divorce their wives by declaring the word (Tallaq) to them or by using another word that indicates their desire to nullify the marriage. The husband can take the marriage certificate in person to The Notary Public. Again, this follows the Sharia divorce.
If either a non-Muslim man or woman wishes to divorce without the consent of the other party they can apply to the Omani Court to request a nullification of the marriage. According to Articles 282 of the Personal Status Law a party can choose to apply the Personal Status Law or their own national laws.
Expat Divorce in Oman
If you are considering a divorce or separation and you are a British expat living in Oman it can be difficult knowing where to start or be able to understand the laws that may apply to you. It’s worth knowing that your divorce does not have to take place in the country in which you were married. If you or your spouse were born in England, or have English connections, you may be able to divorce via the English courts.
For expats in a non-Muslim marriage
If neither the husband nor wife are Muslim, the divorce will still require the husband’s permission. Ending a marriage will require the expats to consult with their respective country’s embassies or consulates regarding the divorce procedure and doing so will also draw the attention of the Saudi courts who will scrutinise the need for a divorce.
It is recommended that the spouses return to their respective countries to manage the divorce.
Expat Divorce in Saudi Arabia
If you are considering a divorce or separation and you are a British expat living in Saudi Arabia you may be wondering where to start and be unsure which laws will apply to you. It’s worth knowing your divorce doesn’t have to take place in the country in which you were married. If you or your spouse were born in England, or have English connections, you may be able to divorce via the English courts.
We can also do the following:
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Essentially, there are 2 types of divorce procedures in Malaysia.
Expat Divorce in Malaysia
If you are considering a divorce or separation and you are a British expat living in Kuala Lumpur it can be difficult knowing where to start or which laws will apply to you. It’s worth knowing that divorce does not have to take place in the country in which you were married. If you or your spouse were born in England, or have English connections you may be able to divorce via the English courts.
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