Family Solicitors for Chinese and Hong Kong Families

We are experts in dealing with international family law cases involving China and Hong Kong. We commonly advise on:

• Jurisdiction disputes and forum considerations
• Financial settlements involving overseas property, business interests and trusts
• Asset tracing and worldwide freezing orders
• International child relocation to or from Hong Kong or mainland China
• Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements for international families
• Enforcement of foreign financial orders

We are also experts in high net worth divorce cases and can advise you on the best jurisdiction in which to file for divorce, where appropriate.

When one or both spouses have links to China or Hong Kong, one of the most important early questions is: where should divorce proceedings be issued?

The choice of jurisdiction can significantly affect financial outcomes, maintenance payments, asset division and child arrangements. Where more than one country has jurisdiction, timing can be critical. The other party may seize their preferred jurisdiction first.

Divorce proceedings may be issued in England and Wales if jurisdictional requirements are met, such as habitual residence or domicile. England and Wales operates under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, which gives the court broad discretion and requires full disclosure of worldwide assets.

Important: Maguire Family Law advises exclusively on the law of England and Wales. We do not provide advice on Hong Kong or Chinese law, but we regularly act in cases involving these connections and can liaise with overseas legal advisers where appropriate.

English courts require full and frank disclosure of worldwide assets. We regularly act in cases involving:

• Property in mainland China or Hong Kong
• International investment portfolios
• Business ownership structures and corporate shareholdings
• Trust arrangements and offshore structures
• Family wealth held across multiple jurisdictions

We work alongside specialist valuers, accountants, barristers and international advisers to ensure settlements are robust, enforceable and strategically sound.

Cases involving children and international movement require careful handling. The welfare of the child is the court’s primary consideration.

The jurisdictional rules for children differ from divorce. The court that deals with welfare issues is determined by the child’s habitual residence meaning where they live day to day and where their centre of interests are.

Where parents share parental responsibility, if one parent wishes to relocate with their child outside England and Wales, they will need the consent of the other parent or permission of the court.

We advise on:

• Applications to relocate children to or from mainland China or Hong Kong
• Defending relocation applications
• Hague Convention and non-Hague issues
• International child abduction concerns
• Cross-border contact arrangements with mirror orders for security