International Family Law Solicitors

When both spouses have links to more than one country, a key question is where to divorce. This matters because each country has its own rules for finances and children. Choosing the right jurisdiction early on can make a big difference to the outcome.

• Jurisdiction – choosing the right country to file in, and acting quickly when timing is critical to secure the best outcome.
• Domicile and habitual residence – the legal tests and jurisdictional issues considered when determining where you can divorce.
• Expat divorce – practical and legal guidance for British nationals living overseas or foreign nationals living in the UK.
• Chinese and Hong Kong divorces – specialist advice for families with connections to China or Hong Kong, including the recognition of overseas decrees.

Cross-border finances can be complicated. You might have assets in different countries, foreign pensions, tax issues in several places, and questions about which court’s rules apply to dividing everything.

• International financial settlements – protecting your rights, claims, and reaching asset agreements that work across borders.
• Financial provision after an overseas divorce – if you divorced abroad and received an inadequate settlement, you may be able to apply to the English courts under Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984. This is a highly technical area where specialist advice is essential.
• International prenuptial and postnuptial agreements – providing clarity and protecting your international assets and wealth where two legal systems are involved.
• Enforcing international financial orders – taking enforcement steps when a financial order made in one country needs to be recognised or enforced in another.

Disputes about children across borders are often urgent and stressful. If a parent wants to move, a child has been taken without consent, or contact needs to work between countries, it is important to get legal advice as soon as possible.

• International child relocation – applying to relocate your children abroad, or opposing an application to move them.
• Child abduction – acting swiftly under the Hague Convention to secure the return of a child who has been wrongfully removed or retained.
• International child contact arrangements – putting safety and security measures in place that keep children safe and give both parents meaningful involvement across borders.

International family law is a highly complex area. If any of these cross-border challenges affect your family, please call us so we can guide you.

Maguire Family Law are leading experts in international divorce, financial settlements, child relocation, child abduction, and international cases involving children. Our managing director, James Maguire, is a proud Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). He is also appointed to panels for multiple diplomatic channels, including the US Embassy and British Consulates overseas, providing us with trusted links to leading family lawyers worldwide.

An international family law solicitor helps with divorce, finances, and children’s issues when families have ties to more than one country. This includes deciding which country’s courts should handle your case, protecting assets in different places, and sorting out disputes about children connected to more than one country.

This depends on where you and your spouse usually live, where you are officially based, and your nationalities or domicile. The country you choose can greatly affect the financial result, so it is best to get specialist advice before anyone starts the process.

In some circumstances, yes. Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 allows the English courts to consider financial claims after an overseas divorce. This route is often used where the overseas settlement was inadequate or where one spouse has a strong connection to England.

Costs depend on the complexity of your case, which countries are involved, and whether the matter is settled by agreement or goes to court. We are upfront about our fees and will explain likely costs at your first meeting with us.

The International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) is a worldwide association of practising family lawyers recognised by their peers as the most experienced specialists in their respective countries. Fellowship is by invitation only. It gives our clients access to a trusted global network of family law experts when cases involve other jurisdictions.

Take action right away. International child abduction cases are urgent. Contact a specialist solicitor as soon as you can. If the country is a party to the Hague Convention, there is a legal process to help get your child back. Acting quickly gives you the best chance.

Yes. We have specific experience advising on divorce, financial, and children matters involving families with connections to China and Hong Kong, including questions of jurisdiction, recognition of overseas decrees, and cross-border asset protection.