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Area 01
Family law
A separation, arrangements for the children, maintenance to be set or reviewed: decisions that shape the future, to be taken with clear and calm advice.
How I can help
- Divorce by mutual consent: drafting and negotiating the agreement, signature before the lawyers, filing with the notary.
- Divorce through the courts: on the grounds of definitive breakdown of the marriage, fault or accepted divorce, interim measures during the proceedings.
- Separation of unmarried couples or civil partners (PACS): arrangements for the children, division of property.
- Parental authority: children’s residence, contact and staying rights, relocation of a parent.
- Child maintenance and compensatory allowance (prestation compensatoire): setting, review, recovery of arrears.
- Parentage: acknowledgement, challenge, establishing paternity.
International families
A marriage celebrated abroad, a spouse living in another country, a child taken out of France: international family situations raise specific questions. Which court has jurisdiction? Which law applies? Is a foreign judgment valid in France?
I advise in particular Franco-Russian couples and Russian-speaking families, in their own language, and I act in cases of wrongful removal of a child under the 1980 Hague Convention.
In a divorce by mutual consent, each spouse must have their own lawyer. Your spouse therefore cannot be advised by the same practice as you.
How the process works
- First conversationYou explain your situation by telephone or video call; I outline the possible options.
- Fee agreementI propose a written fee agreement (convention d’honoraires) setting out the engagement and its cost.
- Strategy and proceedingsAmicable negotiation where possible, proceedings before the family affairs judge (juge aux affaires familiales) where necessary.
- Follow-upI keep you informed at every stage, until the decision is enforced.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced?
Yes. In a divorce by mutual consent, each spouse is assisted by their own lawyer, who drafts and countersigns the agreement. In divorces through the courts, representation by a lawyer is also mandatory.
How long does a divorce by mutual consent take?
The law imposes a fifteen-day cooling-off period after receipt of the draft agreement. In practice, the overall duration depends mainly on the time needed to reach agreement, and ranges from a few weeks to a few months.
We married abroad: can we divorce in France?
Often, yes. The jurisdiction of the French courts and the applicable law depend in particular on the spouses’ habitual residence and nationality. An analysis of your situation will determine where and how to bring proceedings.
How is child maintenance set?
It takes into account each parent’s resources, the child’s needs and the residence arrangements. The French Ministry of Justice publishes an indicative reference table, but the judge remains free to set the amount.
Can a decision on the children’s residence be changed?
Yes, when a new circumstance justifies it: a move, a change in professional situation, a wish expressed by the child. The family affairs judge can be asked to rule again at any time.