International divorce

Welcome to Expatriate Law

Family Law Specialists

Our team of English lawyers are specialists in international divorce and family law, conducting divorces for expatriates through the UK courts. We are proud to have won a number of legal awards in the last year including ‘Excellence in Family Law’ from Corporate Livewire, ‘Best Expatriate Family Lawyers’ in the Middle East Business Awards 2015, ‘Client choice family law award in the UAE’ from Legal’s Finest and ‘Best lawyers for advanced financial provision’ in the AI legal awards 2015 .

Family Law Specialists

Our lawyers advise on a range of UK family law issues involving expats, from the separation of multi-national couples to the safe recovery of abducted children.

Expatriate Law

Team of English lawyers

We advise many hundreds of British expatriates on family law matters each year. Our clients reside across the world, but in particular in expatriate hubs in the Middle East, in Africa, and Asia

Our Lawyers

Our clients are reassured by our team’s international experience and training, together with our local knowledge of issues affecting expatriates.

Where to divorce

Our Expertise

Family Law Specialists

Divorce
Our team of English lawyers are specialists in international divorce and family law, conducting divorces for expatriates through the UK courts. On a daily basis we advise expat clients worldwide, in particular the main expat hubs of Dubai, Qatar, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Japan and Kenya. We only act for expats, meaning our lawyers are thoroughly trained and experienced in this complex field. Clients regularly praise us for our firm negotiating skills, ensuring the best possible outcomes are achieved.
Divorce
Prenuptial Agreements
Are you an expat who was born in England, to Indian parents, marrying a German expat, but live in Singapore? Are you confused as to where you should obtain a prenuptial agreement, how and when it should be done? We regularly advise multinational couples on prenuptial agreements, and liaise with a close network of family lawyers in other jurisdictions where required. Our specialist team will guide you through the process with careful advice and negotiations, to ensure that you have an enforceable agreement that meets your requirements and circumstances.
Prenuptial Agreements
Division of Assets
Divorce and separation will most likely involve the division of matrimonial assets. Such assets could include properties, shares, bank accounts or simply furniture. You may have concerns about how you will manage financially following your separation, and how you will meet the everyday outgoings for yourself or any children if you have not been the main earner in the family. As an expat, you may be concerned about the inclusion of assets in your home country or other jurisdictions. Our team will set out clear and concise advice about your financial entitlement and how to achieve it, and guide you through the process with confidence.
Division of Assets

Custody Disputes
Divorce and separation can be more painful when children are involved. Following separation, expat parents may feel uncertain as to which of them will have day to day care of the children and how arrangements can work practically in terms of visas, sponsorship, accommodation and work related benefits. Living abroad as an expat can make these issues appear more complex. Our lawyers are experienced in the cross over of laws that can apply during expat divorce and the associated children issues, and have close working relationships with family lawyers in other jurisdictions, to ensure full advice.
Custody Disputes
Child Abduction
Often due to fear and uncertainty, a parent may decide to permanently take a child from their place of residence without the consent of the other parent. This causes considerable turmoil for the child and left-behind parent. Our lawyers will sensitively advise on this specialist area of law.
Child Abduction
Sharia & Local Law Issues
We appreciate that living as an expat in the Middle East, you may be concerned about how Sharia law could affect you. It is important for all expats to be aware that in relation to children disputes on divorce or separation, it is usually the law of the country in which the children live that applies, rather than the law of their home country. Read our advice pages for detailed information on Sharia law for expats or contact us for bespoke advice.
Sharia & Local Law Issues
Child Support & Maintenance
You may be an expat wife who is concerned about how you will manage financially after divorce, especially if you have not been working or will lose your husband’s work related benefits. You may be the mother of children and be worried about who should meet their school fees or day to day living expenses. Our lawyers will carefully advise you of your financial entitlement, and how to achieve it.
Child Support & Maintenance

Customer Testimonials

I just wanted to drop you an email to say thank you for all your work on my behalf. I appreciate I have been an impatient and an annoying client at times, it has easily been the most terrible thing I have ever been through in my life. You have made it a little better by keeping me in the loop and updated and by being patient with me. So, Thank You very much.

AM, British expat

Sonny, I appreciate your frank and clear advice around this. Your focus on the human element of all of this has been reassuring. I do not want to approach this as a bitter point scoring exercise with winners and losers, it’s about making the best of a bad situation for our son.

British Expat in Brunei,

I will be recommending you to everyone I know - your professionalism and expertise have been top quality, so thanks for that.

British expat in Portugal,

Alexandra Tribe has been both indefatigable and indispensable to the resolution of these matters

CAFCASS family court adviser, High Court London

I have been advised by many people recently that all lawyers are a certain way you certainly break the mould and I really appreciate what you have done and are doing for me and the kids. Thanks for all your help. I really appreciate the sterling effort you and your team have provided.

CC, British expat

I really appreciate what you have done for me and the kids; working above and beyond the call of duty with out of hours support (even when on holiday). The overall support and counsel you and your company have provided throughout this ordeal has made the impossible possible, and for that my family and I will be forever grateful. It’s been a turbulent 8 months for me personally and without the professional support from Expatriate Law I would be in a very different place at this point of tim...

CC – client,
Dubai

Thank you very much on all fronts. Thank you for your hard work, patience and guidance throughout the process

CT, British expat

It was a breath of fresh air talking to you

DW, British expat in Oman

Sonny provided excellent legal support and very sound advice in what turned out to be a long and difficult legal battle. I have no hesitation in recommending Sonny’s services.

FB,

Sonny provided excellent legal support and very sound advice in what turned out to be a long and difficult legal battle.

FB,

I came to know Alexandra through interviewing number of different lawyers and it was her honest approach that attracted her to me the most. Unlike some lawyers, Alexandra’s approach is first to resolve issues amicably and avoid confrontation, however, if required Alexandra can be very assertive and forceful to achieve the required result. Alexandra has excellent contacts in both UK and UAE and can offer ex-pats with complicated issues the best support one can ask for. I have no hesitation ...

HB, British expat in Dubai

Sonny you have been brilliant with this, I can't thank you enough for your dedication to my case, I am so glad you are my lawyer

HP, British expat

Hannah combines her consummate professionalism and integrity with pragmatic, proactive and patient expertise. She is outstanding in her commitment and attention to detail and is an excellent communicator – explaining matters, and potential outcomes, from all angles. She is an example of the very best in this area of law. I will be eternally grateful to her for her constant support and thanks to her personable guidance we achieved the result I had hoped for against the complexities of deali...

HW, London,

I cannot thank you enough for your advice. It has given me strength and importantly, hope as well.

LP, British expat

Engaging the services of Expatriate Law has without a doubt been the best decision I could take. I have dealt with several law firms in the past and you definitely differentiate and excel for the promptness of your response, level of engagement, professional guidance and knowledge of family law in both the UK and the UAE. Throughout the process I have been positively impressed by the personal attention you have provided me, answering any of my queries immediately and thoroughly, even outsi...

MM – client,
Dubai

I would like to thank-you for seeing me and giving me a thorough outline of my case under the UK law and detailed explanation and advice. To be honest you are the only lawyer who I have seen so far who advised me in an, honest, down to earth and professional way

MN, British expat

Thank you for your emails Sonny, you have filled me with confidence to say the least.

MS, Former expat in England

Sonny, you have been amazing on my file, a blessing. Thank you for all your hard work and a win for us against every hurdle thrown our way - of which there were/have been many. I couldn't have had better representation.

MS,

Alexandra represented me expertly through a very tricky time in my life. She talked me through the process of divorce clearly and always explained to me the merits of the various options available. As a member of Resolution and as a person with the highest integrity, her approach is to first try to avoid argument between parties, if at all possible. Whilst there is no doubt in my mind that in the event of any disagreement, I would be more than adequately protected, I am happy to say that e...

NS, British expat in Qatar

Thank you Sonny for the magnificent effort you have put in

OE, British expat

Far from home?We're by your side

Far from home?We're by your side

Award winning family lawyers, advising British expatriates worldwide

An award winninglegal team

Expatriate divorce and family law specialists

Welcome to Expatriate Law

Family Law Specialists

Team of English lawyers