Family Lawyers in France: Marriage, Divorce and Custody

Our family lawyers in France can offer legal representation, assistance and advice for any issue that is regulated by the French family legislation: marriage, civil unions, divorce, adoption, custody, child support etc. We are specialized in all these branches of law and we will provide tailored assistance to our clients.

Quick Facts
Legislation	French Family Law under the Civil Code
In what cases can our family lawyers in France help you?	– marriage, – divorce, – custody, – paternity, – division of mutual assets, etc.
Certificate of celibacy required for marriage in France	Necessary
How is the divorce procedure in France?	By mutual consent (agreement signed by each spouse's lawyer and filed with a notary) or in the court of law
How long does it take to get the divorce decision?	A few weeks in the case of mutual agreement or years if it is done in a court of law
Are prenups available in France? (YES/NO)	YES
Child arrangements	– hour visits, – alimony, – education-related matters can be discussed during a divorce in France.
Are civil partnerships accepted in France?	Yes, these are known as “Pacte Civil de Solidarité” (PACS).
Registration of civil partnerships in France	Can be done with the help of our French lawyers.
Legal advice in cases of domestic violence	We represent customers involved in domestic abuse.
Common assets distribution	Our French family lawyers can represent each spouse involved in the divorce for proper asset distribution.
Is mediation provided in separation cases? (YES/NO)	YES
Is legal aid provided?	Depending on the circumstances and cases presented.
Extra services	Our French attorneys provide free case evaluations.
Why choose our French family lawyers?	We assist and advise clients in a wide range of family law-related matters in France.

What are the main legal services your French family lawyers offer?

Our team can provide tailored legal services. You can always rely on our family attorneys in France for the following:

legal advice on any of the rules and regulations concerning: marriage, divorce, child custody, children’s rights, the division of the assets in the event of a divorce, international marriage and divorce, etc.;
helping clients prepare the set of required documents in accordance with the event of interest (marriage, divorce, etc.);
legal representation in front of any competentFrench authority and in front of French courts.

What should I know about getting married in France?

Here is essential information aboutgetting married in France:

partners must be at least 18 years of age forgetting married in France;
a certificate of celibacy is solicited as part of the marriage documents – divorce papers from a previous marriage are also accepted;
a prenuptial medical certificate is no longer required (abolished in 2008);
foreign couples getting married in France need a notarized Affidavit of Law translated into French.

What should I abide by if I want to get married in France as a foreigner?

There aren’t any strict rules to abide by if you want toget married in France as a foreigner. Our family lawyers in France can present the procedures (please mind that at least one of the future spouses (or a parent) must have lived in the French commune for at least one month before the banns are published).

Is same-sex marriage possible in France?

Yes, Franceaccepts same-sex marriages since 2013, when theFrench Family Law was modified in this sense.

Are prenups accepted in France?

Yes, couples can consider pre-nuptial agreements beforegetting married in France. This kind of document is referred to as a marriage contract and is a guarantee that personal belongings are protected in the case of a divorce.

You can explore this infographic with details about the legal services we offer:

What types of divorces are recognized in France?

Divorce in France can be completed through:

mutual consent – the parties agree on the terms of the separation;
acceptance of the principle of the marital breakdown – in this case, they agree on the fact that they can’t continue the marriage, but they do not agree on certain aspects of the separation, such as child custody;
a fault – one of the spouses wants to divorce the other due to serious misconduct, such as infidelity or abuse;
the definitive breakdown of the marriage – the spouses have lived apart for at least one year.

What does a divorce involve?

Divorces in France usually consist of two procedures:

the order of the divorce, followed by the determination of the custody of the children and the amount of child support – performed by a French judge;
the division of assets – performed by a French notary.

Do I need a lawyer in the case I want to initiate divorce proceedings in France?

Yes. Please mind that this is a very important aspect: under the French law, spouses divorcing need each a French family lawyer, regardless of the type of divorce they will initiate. If the parties start a mutual consent divorce and agree on all terms, they still need their own lawyer (they can’t use the services of the same lawyer).

What types of custody are available in France?

Child custody in France is of two types:

legal custody – the right of the parents to decide upon the child’s upbringing, education and property (generally, parents are given joint custody);
physical custody – the child’s place of residence with one of the parents (the parents can also have joint physical custody).

What are the rules for child support in France?

The French Civil Code regulates child support in France, which must be established based on the income of the parents, the number of children who need financial support, the custody arrangements, the needs of the children, etc.

Is there any legal consequence for a parent who fails to pay child support?

Yes. Once the child support scheme has been established, it is required to abide by it. Please mind that not paying child support for more than 2 months in a row can result in a fine of EUR 15,000 and even imprisonment of up to 2 years. Please address our French family lawyers for in-depth legal information on the applicable law.

Is adoption of children available in France?

Yes, theFrench Family Lawregulates the adoption procedures available, with the mention that the legal representative of the minor is about to be adopted must sign a consent in this matter. Here are other essential aspects to consider:

couples (married, in a PACS or cohabiting) who have lived together for at least 1 year, or are both over 26, can commence the adoption procedures;
same-sex couples inFrance can also adopt children, as the legislation in this sense has been promulgated in 2013;
non-married couples can adopt children in France.

Our law firm in France can help you with more information regarding family law in France and any detailed information about specific requirements for marriage, divorce or child care in France. Please contact us for more details.