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International Expat Divorce Lawyer in France 

As an English-speaking international family lawyer based in Paris, we assist expats with the recognition and enforcement of foreign divorce decrees, child custody rulings, spousal support orders, and other family judgments in France. We guide you through the enforcement and transcription procedures to ensure your rights are respected under French law.

International Uncontested Divorce in France

An amicable divorce (also called mutual consent divorce) is the simplest and fastest option for expats divorcing in France. It does not require going to court, provided both parties agree on all aspects of the divorce, including:

  • Division of assets and property

  • Child custody and visitation

  • Child support and spousal alimony (if applicable)

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Agreements can be reached directly, through lawyers, or via mediation. Once the terms are agreed, each party’s lawyer drafts the divorce contract, which is then registered by a French notary (notaire).

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➡️ Timeline: This type of international divorce can be completed in as little as one month — but depends on how quickly both parties reach an agreement.

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⚠️ Important: While amicable divorces are straightforward, there are several legal and procedural pitfalls. It’s essential to receive qualified legal advice to ensure the agreement is enforceable in a cross-border contexts.

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International  Contested Divorce in France

If agreement cannot be reached, a contested divorce must be handled through the French family court system.

 

Several legal grounds may apply depending on your situation:

  • Accepted divorce: Both spouses agree to divorce, but still dispute certain consequences (property, custody, support).

  • Divorce for permanent breakdown: If you’ve lived separately for at least one year, you may file for divorce without needing to assign blame.

  • Fault-based divorce: In cases of abuse, or other serious misconduct, a spouse may file based on the other’s fault — supported by evidence.

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➡️ Timeline: Court proceedings can take from 1 year to several years, depending on the type of divorce and complexity of the case.

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We assist expats throughout the process, ensuring your rights are protected under French and international law.​​

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Alimony During International Divorce in France

During divorce proceedings in France, spousal alimony (pension alimentaire) may be awarded to the spouse with the lower income. It is typically paid monthly, throughout the duration of the divorce.

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Key points:

  • It can be agreed upon between parties or ordered by the judge.

  • There is no official formula for calculating spousal alimony in France.

  • The judge (or lawyers) consider: the requesting spouse’s needs, standard of living during the marriage, financial capacity of the higher-income spouse

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➡️ Note: This alimony is in addition to any child support ordered or agreed upon.

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Spousal Maintenance after Divorce in France

Once the divorce is finalized, spousal alimony ends and may be replaced by a spousal maintenance (prestation compensatoire).

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Key points:

  • It is typically paid as a lump sum or in installments over time.

  • It is not automatically granted — even in cases of income disparity.

  • Determining factors include:
    – Length of the marriage
    – Age of the spouses
    – Sacrifices made by the requesting spouse (e.g. career for the family)

  • There is no official formula to calculate maintenance

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Each case is unique and assessed individually. We help our clients build strong, well-supported applications to ensure a fair outcome.

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