Divorce, Separation, and the International Dimension of Family Law
The end of a relationship—whether a marriage, civil partnership (PACS), or common-law marriage—involves both personal and financial decisions. When spouses, partners, or cohabitants have ties to multiple countries, these issues are compounded by matters of private international law that require specialized expertise.
Questions clients often ask
Which procedure should we choose given our situation? How long will it take? What will be the immediate and long-term financial consequences? How is spousal support calculated, and what are its tax implications? How can we protect the children? Does a French court have jurisdiction if we live abroad, or if my spouse has left with the children? Will the French judgment be enforced in the country where my spouse resides?
What this area covers
The firm handles all types of separation cases, addressing both their personal and financial consequences:
- divorces by mutual consent, contested divorces;
- termination of civil partnerships (PACS) and separations of cohabiting couples;
- compensatory allowance: assessment, determination, revision, and tax treatment;
- separations with an international dimension: determining the competent jurisdiction and applicable law, recognition and enforcement of foreign decisions in France, and enforcement of French decisions abroad;
- applications for protection orders.
Domestic violence is addressed from a civil law perspective (protection orders) on the page dedicated to divorce and separation. For the criminal law aspects related to domestic violence, clients may be referred to a criminal defense attorney with whom the firm works closely to ensure optimal case management.
In accordance with its practice philosophy, the firm prioritizes, whenever possible, amicable methods of dispute resolution: negotiation between legal counsel, participatory proceedings, mediation, and the collaborative process. Attorney Fadela HOUARI is trained in the collaborative process (Levels 1 and 2) as well as in mediation. When litigation is unavoidable, the firm handles it with rigor and precision, in accordance with the profession’s ethical rules.