i Table of contents 478

Family Law 2025

Definitive global law guides offering comparative analysis from top-ranked lawyers

INTRODUCTION		6
Contributed by Alex Carruthers, Oliver Heeks and Sian Brooks, Hughes Fowler Carruthers		6
ARGENTINA		11
Law and Practice		11
Contributed by McEWAN		11
Trends and Developments		23
Contributed by McEWAN		23
AUSTRALIA		28
Law and Practice		28
Contributed by Barkus Doolan Winning		28
BELGIUM		53
Law and Practice		53
Contributed by Tiberghien		53
BRAZIL		73
Law and Practice		73
Contributed by Tortoro, Madureira & Ragazzi Advogados		73
CANADA		90
Law and Practice		90
Contributed by McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP		90
Trends and Developments		105
Contributed by McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP		105
ENGLAND & WALES		115
Law and Practice		115
Contributed by Hughes Fowler Carruthers		115
Trends and Developments		135
Contributed by Hughes Fowler Carruthers		135
FINLAND		143
Law and Practice		143
Contributed by Pekka Tuunainen Attorneys Ltd		143
FRANCE		154
Law and Practice		154
Contributed by Chauveau Mulon & Associés		154
HONG KONG SAR, CHINA		177
Trends and Developments		177
Contributed by Oldham, Li & Nie		177
ITALY		182
Law and Practice		182
Contributed by Studio dell’avv. prof. Carlo Rimini		182
MALTA		201
Law and Practice		201
Contributed by 8Point Law		201
NETHERLANDS		213
Law and Practice		213
Contributed by Delissen Martens Advocaten		213
Trends and Developments		232
Contributed by Delissen Martens Advocaten		232
PORTUGAL		240
Law and Practice		240
Contributed by Rogério Alves & Associados		240
SCOTLAND		249
Law and Practice		249
Contributed by Turcan Connell		249
Trends and Developments		265
Contributed by Turcan Connell		265
SINGAPORE		271
Law and Practice		271
Contributed by Bih Li & Lee LLP		271
Trends and Developments		287
Contributed by Bih Li & Lee LLP		287
SOUTH AFRICA		293
Law and Practice		293
Contributed by Clarks Attorneys		293
SPAIN		311
Law and Practice		311
Contributed by Arbáizar Abogados		311
Trends and Developments		327
Contributed by Arbáizar Abogados		327
UAE		332
Law and Practice		332
Contributed by Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy		332
USA – ARKANSAS		345
Law and Practice		345
Contributed by Bundy Law		345
Trends and Developments		354
Contributed by Bundy Law		354
USA – DELAWARE		360
Trends and Developments		360
Contributed by Bayard		360
USA – FLORIDA		365
Law and Practice		365
Contributed by Sasser, Cestero & Roy		365
Trends and Developments		384
Contributed by Sasser, Cestero & Roy		384
USA – INDIANA		389
Law and Practice		389
Contributed by Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP		389
Trends and Developments		400
Contributed by Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP		400
USA – MASSACHUSETTS		404
Law and Practice		404
Contributed by Fitch Law Partners LLP		404
Trends and Developments		417
Contributed by Fitch Law Partners LLP		417
USA – MISSOURI		425
Law and Practice		425
Contributed by Bundy Law		425
USA – NEW YORK		432
Law and Practice		432
Contributed by Rabin Schumann and Partners LLP		432
USA – OHIO		444
Law and Practice		444
Contributed by Zashin Law		444
Trends and Developments		459
Contributed by Zashin Law		459
USA – OKLAHOMA		464
Law and Practice		464
Contributed by Bundy Law		464
Trends and Developments		474
Contributed by Bundy Law		474
1. Divorce		13
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		13
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		14
2. Financial Proceedings		15
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		15
2.2 Service and Process		15
2.3 Division of Assets		15
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		17
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		17
2.6 Cohabitation		17
2.7 Enforcement		18
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		18
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		18
3. Child Law		18
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		18
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		18
3.3 Other Matters		20
3.4 ADR		21
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		21
1. Divorce		31
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		31
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		32
2. Financial Proceedings		33
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		33
2.2 Service and Process		36
2.3 Division of Assets		37
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		40
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		41
2.6 Cohabitation		43
2.7 Enforcement		43
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		44
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		45
3. Child Law		46
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		46
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		47
3.3 Other Matters		50
3.4 ADR		51
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		51
1. Divorce		56
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		56
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		58
2. Financial Proceedings		59
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		59
2.2 Service and Process		61
2.3 Division of Assets		62
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		63
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		64
2.6 Cohabitation		64
2.7 Enforcement		65
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		66
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		66
3. Child Law		67
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		67
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		68
3.3 Other Matters		71
3.4 ADR		72
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		72
1. Divorce		75
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		75
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		78
2. Financial Proceedings		79
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		79
2.2 Service and Process		80
2.3 Division of Assets		80
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		83
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		84
2.6 Cohabitation		84
2.7 Enforcement		85
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		86
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		86
3. Child Law		86
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		86
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		87
3.3 Other Matters		88
3.4 ADR		88
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		89
1. Divorce		93
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		93
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		93
2. Financial Proceedings		94
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		94
2.2 Service and Process		94
2.3 Division of Assets		95
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		97
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		98
2.6 Cohabitation		99
2.7 Enforcement		100
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		100
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		100
3. Child Law		101
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		101
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		101
3.3 Other Matters		102
3.4 ADR		103
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		104
1. Divorce		117
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		117
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		118
2. Financial Proceedings		120
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		120
2.2 Service and Process		121
2.3 Division of Assets		121
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		124
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		125
2.6 Cohabitation		125
2.7 Enforcement		126
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		126
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		127
3. Child Law		129
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		129
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		130
3.3 Other Matters		133
3.4 ADR		133
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		134
1. Divorce		145
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		145
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		146
2. Financial Proceedings		146
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		146
2.2 Service and Process		147
2.3 Division of Assets		148
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		149
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		149
2.6 Cohabitation		149
2.7 Enforcement		150
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		150
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		150
3. Child Law		151
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		151
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		151
3.3 Other Matters		152
3.4 ADR		153
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		153
1. Divorce		156
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		156
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		159
2. Financial Proceedings		161
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		161
2.2 Service and Process		163
2.3 Division of Assets		165
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		168
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		169
2.6 Cohabitation		170
2.7 Enforcement		170
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		171
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		171
3. Child Law		172
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		172
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		173
3.3 Other Matters		175
3.4 ADR		176
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		176
1. Divorce		184
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		184
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		187
2. Financial Proceedings		188
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		188
2.2 Service and Process		190
2.3 Division of Assets		191
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		192
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		193
2.6 Cohabitation		194
2.7 Enforcement		195
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		195
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		195
3. Child Law		196
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		196
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		197
3.3 Other Matters		199
3.4 ADR		200
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		200
1. Divorce		203
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		203
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		204
2. Financial Proceedings		205
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		205
2.2 Service and Process		205
2.3 Division of Assets		205
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		206
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		207
2.6 Cohabitation		207
2.7 Enforcement		208
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		208
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		209
3. Child Law		209
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		209
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		209
3.3 Other Matters		211
3.4 ADR		212
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		212
1. Divorce		216
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		216
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		218
2. Financial Proceedings		219
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		219
2.2 Service and Process		220
2.3 Division of Assets		221
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		222
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		223
2.6 Cohabitation		224
2.7 Enforcement		225
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		225
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		226
3. Child Law		226
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		226
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		227
3.3 Other Matters		229
3.4 ADR		231
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		231
1. Divorce		242
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		242
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		243
2. Financial Proceedings		243
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		243
2.2 Service and Process		244
2.3 Division of Assets		244
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		245
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		245
2.6 Cohabitation		245
2.7 Enforcement		245
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		246
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		246
3. Child Law		246
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		246
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		246
3.3 Other Matters		247
3.4 ADR		248
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		248
1. Divorce		252
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		252
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		254
2. Financial Proceedings		255
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		255
2.2 Service and Process		256
2.3 Division of Assets		256
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		257
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		257
2.6 Cohabitation		257
2.7 Enforcement		258
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		258
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		259
3. Child Law		260
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		260
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		260
3.3 Other Matters		262
3.4 ADR		263
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		263
1. Divorce		274
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		274
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		277
2. Financial Proceedings		278
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		278
2.2 Service and Process		279
2.3 Division of Assets		280
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		281
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		283
2.6 Cohabitation		284
2.7 Enforcement		284
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		284
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		285
3. Child Law		285
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		285
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		285
3.3 Other Matters		286
3.4 ADR		286
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		286
1. Divorce		295
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		295
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		297
2. Financial Proceedings		298
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		298
2.2 Service and Process		298
2.3 Division of Assets		298
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		300
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		301
2.6 Cohabitation		302
2.7 Enforcement		302
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		304
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		304
3. Child Law		305
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		305
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		305
3.3 Other Matters		307
3.4 ADR		309
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		310
1. Divorce		313
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		313
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		314
2. Financial Proceedings		316
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		316
2.2 Service and Process		317
2.3 Division of Assets		318
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		319
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		320
2.6 Cohabitation		320
2.7 Enforcement		321
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		321
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		321
3. Child Law		321
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		321
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		322
3.3 Other Matters		324
3.4 ADR		325
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		326
1. Divorce		334
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		334
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		336
2. Financial Proceedings		337
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		337
2.2 Service and Process		337
2.3 Division of Assets		337
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		337
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		339
2.6 Cohabitation		339
2.7 Enforcement		340
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		340
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		340
3. Child Law		341
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		341
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		341
3.3 Other Matters		343
3.4 ADR		344
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		344
1. Divorce		347
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		347
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		348
2. Financial Proceedings		349
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		349
2.2 Service and Process		349
2.3 Division of Assets		349
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		350
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		350
2.6 Cohabitation		351
2.7 Enforcement		351
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		351
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		351
3. Child Law		351
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		351
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		351
3.3 Other Matters		352
3.4 ADR		353
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		353
1. Divorce		367
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		367
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		368
2. Financial Proceedings		369
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		369
2.2 Service and Process		370
2.3 Division of Assets		370
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		372
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		374
2.6 Cohabitation		376
2.7 Enforcement		376
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		377
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		378
3. Child Law		379
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		379
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		380
3.3 Other Matters		381
3.4 ADR		382
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		383
1. Divorce		391
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		391
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		391
2. Financial Proceedings		392
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		392
2.2 Service and Process		392
2.3 Division of Assets		392
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		393
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		394
2.6 Cohabitation		394
2.7 Enforcement		394
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		394
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		395
3. Child Law		395
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		395
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		395
3.3 Other Matters		397
3.4 ADR		398
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		398
1. Divorce		407
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		407
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		408
2. Financial Proceedings		408
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		408
2.2 Service and Process		409
2.3 Division of Assets		409
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		410
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		410
2.6 Cohabitation		411
2.7 Enforcement		412
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		412
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		412
3. Child Law		413
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		413
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		414
3.3 Other Matters		414
3.4 ADR		415
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		416
1. Divorce		427
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		427
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		427
2. Financial Proceedings		427
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		427
2.2 Service and Process		427
2.3 Division of Assets		428
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		428
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		428
2.6 Cohabitation		429
2.7 Enforcement		429
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		429
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		429
3. Child Law		429
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		429
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		429
3.3 Other Matters		431
3.4 ADR		431
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		431
1. Divorce		434
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		434
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		435
2. Financial Proceedings		436
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		436
2.2 Service and Process		437
2.3 Division of Assets		437
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		438
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		439
2.6 Cohabitation		439
2.7 Enforcement		439
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		440
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		440
3. Child Law		440
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		440
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		441
3.3 Other Matters		442
3.4 ADR		443
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		443
1. Divorce		447
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		447
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		449
2. Financial Proceedings		449
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		449
2.2 Service and Process		449
2.3 Division of Assets		449
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		450
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		451
2.6 Cohabitation		452
2.7 Enforcement		453
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		454
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		454
3. Child Law		455
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		455
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		456
3.3 Other Matters		457
3.4 ADR		458
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		458
1. Divorce		466
1.1 Grounds, Timeline, Service and Process		466
1.2 Choice of Jurisdiction		467
2. Financial Proceedings		467
2.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		467
2.2 Service and Process		468
2.3 Division of Assets		468
2.4 Spousal Maintenance		469
2.5 Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements		470
2.6 Cohabitation		470
2.7 Enforcement		470
2.8 Media Access and Transparency		470
2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)		470
3. Child Law		471
3.1 Choice of Jurisdiction		471
3.2 Living/Contact Arrangements and Child Maintenance		472
3.3 Other Matters		472
3.4 ADR		473
3.5 Media Access and Transparency		473

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