Divorce, child custody, international parental disputes, prenuptial agreements and inheritance matters.
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Bilingual lawyer in Paris with 12+ years experience helping over 350 clients. English-speaking for expats in France.
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Specialises in expat immigration and international family law for expatriates
Expat-focused immigration and family law
Family law specialist for international divorces
If you and your spouse are from different countries, EU Regulation Rome III may determine applicable law. A family lawyer can advise on your specific situation.
Courts prioritise the child's best interests. International custody disputes may involve the Hague Convention. Always use a specialist family lawyer.
Browse our verified directory of law firms across France's major cities. All listed firms offer English-language legal services to expats and foreign nationals.
Find My Lawyer in 60 SecondsFrench family law is codified in the Code civil. Since loi n° 2016-1547 (Justice du 21ème siècle), divorce by mutual consent (consentement mutuel) no longer requires a court — parties and their respective avocats sign a convention déposée chez un notaire (Code civil art. 229-1 to 229-4).
| Divorce Type | Code civil Ref. | Court? | Typical Duration | Avocat Cost (total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consentement mutuel (mutual) | Art. 229-1 | ❌ No judge | 1–4 months | €800–2,500 (each party needs own avocat) |
| Accepté (accepted facts) | Art. 233 | ✅ JAF hearing | 6–12 months | €2,000–5,000 |
| Altération définitive du lien (2-yr separation) | Art. 237 | ✅ JAF | 12–24 months | €2,500–6,000 |
| Pour faute (fault — rare since 2004) | Art. 242 | ✅ JAF + debate | 18–36 months | €4,000–15,000 |
Notaire fee for convention de divorce (consentement mutuel): fixed at €50 HT (décret 2016-1907) for the deposit with the notaire. Each avocat charges separately.
| Net Monthly Income of Paying Parent | 1 child (€) | 2 children (€) | 3 children (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| €1,000 | ≈ €100–120 | ≈ €150–190 | ≈ €200–240 |
| €2,000 | ≈ €180–220 | ≈ €280–350 | ≈ €380–460 |
| €3,000 | ≈ €260–320 | ≈ €400–500 | ≈ €530–660 |
| €5,000 | ≈ €400–530 | ≈ €630–840 | ≈ €840–1,100 |
France publishes a table de référence (not legally binding like the German Düsseldorfer Tabelle, but widely used by JAFs). Figures above use Ministry of Justice table (circular 2010-14) — courts adjust for alternating custody, extraordinary expenses, child's age. Non-payment: abandon de famille offence (Code pénal art. 227-3) — up to 2 years prison and €15,000 fine.
A PACS (Pacte civil de solidarité — Code civil art. 515-1 et seq.) is available to same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Since 2017, PACS registration moved from courts to the officier d'état civil (mairie) — free registration.
| Item | Cost |
| Mairie registration | Free |
| Notaire (optional — recommended for complex patrimony) | €200–500 |
| Dissolution: unilateral (sends registered letter to partner + mairie) | Free |
Tax benefit: PACS partners file joint IR returns from the year of PACS. Inheritance between PACS partners: 0% tax (same as spouses since 2007) — unlike unmarried partners (60% tax).
