Divorce can be stressful enough, and when another country is involved, it can feel even more complicated. Our international divorce solicitors in Chester, Manchester and Sale deal with these cases regularly and will tell you plainly where you stand.
International divorce is the term used for a divorce with a connection to more than one country, because one or both spouses live abroad, hold different nationalities, married outside England and Wales, or hold property, pensions or business interests overseas. It isn’t a separate legal process, but it raises three questions a purely domestic divorce doesn’t: which court should deal with it, whether a divorce already granted abroad is recognised here, and how assets held in different countries are dealt with financially.
International divorce advice we offer
Our international divorce solicitors handle every stage of a cross-border case, from deciding where you should divorce through to sorting out money and property held in more than one country.
Deciding which country you should divorce in
We advise on whether you can, and should, divorce in England and Wales when a marriage crosses borders. This is a question of habitual residence and domicile, not where you married or your nationality. Clients often ask us “my husband lives in Dubai, can I divorce him here?”, and we’ll give you a straight answer, then tell you honestly if another country would serve you better, particularly since Brexit removed the old advantage of simply filing first in an EU country. The same principle apply to dissolving a civil partnership with an international element.
Recognition of an overseas divorce
We advise on whether a divorce you’ve already obtained abroad will be recognised in England and Wales. This isn’t always automatic and depends on where and how it was granted under Part II of the Family Law Act 1986. We’ve advised on recognition questions involving divorces from across the world, including religious divorces such as a Talaq or a Get, which aren’t always automatically recognised here.
Child arrangements in an international divorce
We act in child arrangements disputes with an international element, where a child’s home, potential relocation and, in the most serious cases, abduction risk can sit alongside the divorce itself. Jurisdiction for children’s matters usually follows the child rather than either parent, so we advise on both together rather than in isolation. Where there’s a risk of a child being taken abroad, we act quickly alongside our international child abduction team.
Financial claims after a foreign divorce
We make applications to the Family Court for financial provision on behalf of clients who’ve already divorced overseas, using Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984. This route is used when a foreign court didn’t make adequate financial orders, or couldn’t deal with UK property or pensions. You’ll need the court’s permission first, the overseas divorce must be recognised as valid here, and you mustn’t have remarried.
Protecting assets held in more than one country
We help clients divide pensions, property, trusts and business interests that sit in more than one country. This work takes genuine cross-border knowledge, and not just UK family law.
How does international divorce work?
Establishing jurisdiction
International divorce adds two extra stages compared to a domestic divorce. We confirm whether England and Wales can deal with your divorce, based on habitual residence or domicile, before anything else proceeds.
Resolving forum disputes
If your spouse could issue elsewhere and disagrees on where the case belongs, we resolve this early, since a contested dispute adds real delay.
Starting proceedings or applying for permission
We issue in England and Wales, or, if you’ve already divorced abroad, confirm recognition and apply for the court’s permission under Part III.
Sorting the finances
Both sides disclose assets wherever they’re held worldwide, and we negotiate or litigate a settlement covering pensions, property and business interests.
Reaching a final order
A straightforward English divorce takes a minimum 20 weeks to conditional order, then six weeks to final order; a Part III claim ends with a court decision on financial relief instead.
Why choose Slater Heelis as your international divorce solicitors
Recognised excellence in family law
We’re commended in The Times’ Best Law Firms guide for 2026. The Legal 500 recognises us as one of the leading family law firms in the North West. With over 1,900 reviews and an average rating of 4.9/5 on ReviewSolicitors, our clients trust us enough to recommend us when their friends and family need help.
Over 250 years of excellence
We’ve been providing legal advice to families since 1773. With offices in Manchester, Sale and Chester, we’re rooted in the communities we serve and understand the issues families face. We also advise clients across the UK from offices in London, Liverpool, Leeds, York and Sheffield. Our international divorce solicitors expertly handle all aspects of divorce including the most complex of financial disputes.
Genuine cross-border experience
We’ve advised on cases involving Spain, Dubai, the USA, Canada, Australia, France, Pakistan and Nigeria, among others, so we’re not learning the basics of another country’s system while working on yours. We’ll always tell you straight where you stand, even when the answer is complicated.
National scale, proven expertise
Slater Heelis is part of Lawfront, a national group of regional law firms. Together, our family law teams total over 100 specialists and hold 8 Legal 500 rankings nationally, including 3 Tier 1.
Call us on 0330 111 3131 or contact us via our online enquiry form to arrange a consultation with our international divorce solicitors.
Our offices in Manchester, Sale and Chester are open for face-to-face meetings, and we also work with clients across the UK, with meetings at other locations, such as London, Leeds and Liverpool, available by appointment. We’ll keep you informed, act quickly and help you move forward with clarity and confidence during what we know is a difficult time.
Frequently Asked Questions about international divorce
Can I get divorced in England and Wales if my spouse lives abroad?
Yes. You can divorce in England and Wales if either you or your spouse meets the jurisdiction tests under the Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973, based on habitual residence or domicile. It doesn’t matter where you got married, where your spouse currently lives, or either of your nationalities, as only these connection tests decide it.
How much does an international divorce cost?
International divorces generally cost more than domestic ones, because establishing jurisdiction, dealing with recognition of any existing foreign divorce, or bringing a Part III claim all add extra legal work on top of the usual process. The exact cost depends on how many countries are involved and whether jurisdiction is disputed, so we’ll always give you a clear estimate before you commit to anything.
How long does an international divorce take?
A straightforward divorce in England and Wales takes a minimum of 20 weeks from application to conditional order, then a further six weeks and one day to final order. International cases usually take longer than this, particularly if jurisdiction is disputed or you’re bringing a Part III claim for financial relief after a foreign divorce, which has no fixed timescale.
What's the difference between habitual residence and domicile?
Habitual residence is about where your life is actually based day to day; domicile is a more technical concept based on which country you treat as your permanent home, even if you’re currently living elsewhere. Both can establish the English court’s jurisdiction to deal with your divorce, and you may satisfy one without the other.
Will my overseas divorce be recognised in England and Wales?
An overseas divorce is recognised in England and Wales if it’s valid under the law of the country where it was granted, and either you or your spouse was resident, domiciled or a national there at the time, under Part II of the Family Law Act 1986. Religious divorces such as a Talaq or a Get aren’t always automatically recognised.
How do I get an international divorce?
There’s no separate process called “international divorce” as you go through the ordinary English divorce process once jurisdiction is confirmed, or apply for the court’s permission to bring a Part III claim if you’ve already divorced abroad. The step most people miss is confirming jurisdiction and recognition before doing anything else, which is why early advice matters more than in a standard divorce.
Can I get financial relief in England after divorcing abroad?
Yes, in some circumstances, under Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984. You’ll need the court’s permission, the overseas divorce must be recognised as valid here, you mustn’t have remarried, and you’ll usually need to show a strong connection to England and Wales through habitual residence, domicile, or a property that was the family home.
What happens if my spouse starts divorce proceedings in another country too?
This is called a forum dispute, and it needs resolving before either case can properly continue. The court decides which country has the closest connection to the marriage, weighing factors like where you lived together and where your assets are, there’s no automatic advantage to whoever issued proceedings first, even against an EU country.
Can an English court deal with a pension held overseas?
No, not usually. English pension sharing orders can’t be made over a pension held overseas, because the English court has no power to bind a foreign pension provider. The usual solution is offsetting: giving the other spouse a larger share of the remaining assets to make up for the pension they can’t access directly.
What happens to arrangements for children in an international divorce?
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