A French expatriate can divorce abroad or in France depending on their situation. The court with jurisdiction and the applicable law depend on residence and nationality. A divorce pronounced abroad must then be recognized in France to take effect. Indeed, getting...

Couples' lives evolve, as do their financial and family needs. The choice of matrimonial regime is therefore not set in stone at the time of marriage: it can be adapted during the marriage to better protect your spouse, organize the transfer of your assets, or take...

With the rise of blended families, the role of stepparents has become central in the lives of many children. Yet, in France, the legal status of stepparents—whether married, in a civil partnership (PACS), or simply cohabiting—remains largely undefined. This lack of a...

The rights of LGBTQIA+ families in France have seen major progress over the past decade, profoundly transforming the legal framework of parenthood and filiation. Marriage, adoption, medically assisted reproduction (ART), and access to donor origins: the law has...

Supervised visitation in a contact center—sometimes called “mediated visitation”—is a measure that the family court judge (JAF) can order in the best interests of the child when the family context or parental situation justifies it. This special measure is intended to...

Moving abroad as a family changes the rules applying to custody, parental authority and any divorce. The country of residence often becomes the one with jurisdiction. Anticipating these effects avoids disputes if a separation happens abroad. Here are the main points...

Direct payment is a legal mechanism that remains relatively unknown to the general public but is particularly useful for guaranteeing the payment of support obligations by a debtor. It can be used to recover child support owed either under the spousal duty of support...

Marriage is a fundamental legal act that establishes a couple’s union and carries significant personal and financial consequences. However, there are instances where essential conditions for its validity are not met at the time of celebration. In such cases, the law...

Spousal support granted under the duty of support is a cornerstone of marital solidarity under the French Civil Code. This obligation, which often raises questions during separation, must be clearly understood in terms of its legal basis, how it is calculated, its...

In family disputes, the statements or documents provided by the parties are often not enough to give the judge a clear picture of the facts. To ensure a fair and well-founded decision, the law allows the Family Court Judge (“Juge aux affaires familiales” or JAF) to...