Tag Archive for: Divorce

Benefits of talking to a divorce specialist

Friday 12 September 2014 is the Day of Divorce in the Netherlands, organised by the Association of Family Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vFAS). Susan Meijler from GMW lawyers in The Hague explains how people can benefit from a free informal talk with a divorce specialist.

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Maintenance payments by entrepreneurs: why we’re getting it wrong

When a married couple gets a divorce, in most cases one of the spouses ends up paying the ex-spouse maintenance. Individuals who are entrepreneurs often end up paying their ex-spouse the wrong amount of maintenance. This is due to cash flows being disregarded or not given sufficient consideration. So how SHOULD the courts calculate maintenance?

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Divorce in the Netherlands and ties with Scotland

In recent years, family lawyers at GMW lawyers have often dealt with Scottish divorce law, as their clients have Scottish nationality, got married in Scotland, and came to the Netherlands for work.

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When does Dutch law apply to divorce (part 2)?

Part 1 of this series addressed the application of the Dutch Matrimonial Property Law on the division or settlement of property and assets between spouses in international divorce. This is of special interest for expats in divorce. In part 2 we are going to focus on the effect of the law on maintenance.

Does Dutch law apply to maintenance?

The law applicable to maintenance can be different from the law that applies to the Matrimonial Property Regime.

Child maintenance

Based on The Hague Protocol 2007, the law of the usual country of residence of the person entitled to receiving maintenance is applicable for determining child maintenance. If a Dutch judge receives such a request and the children live in the Netherlands,  the Court will determine child maintenance according to Dutch law.

Spousal maintenance

Based on the protocol mentioned above, in the case of spousal maintenance, the law of the usual country of residence of the person entitled to receiving maintenance applies. There is, however, one exception. If the person obliged to pay spousal maintenance contests this law and the marriage has a closer tie to another country, then that law applies.

The protocol primarily considered the last country in which the parties had a common residence. Numerous factors play a role, such as the location where the marriage took place. Other factors are the length of residence of the spouses in the different countries, their nationality, etc. This possibility to exception can lead to lengthy discussions in international divorce. This holds especially for expats that often have a closer tie to the country of their common nationality.

Be well informed when it comes to maintenance payments. The differences between countries are enormous, especially where spousal maintenance is concerned. The length of the maintenance obligation differs, as well as the amount. In Norway, for example, spousal maintenance does not exist.

Contact

If you are an expat living in the Netherlands and you are involved in an international divorce, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice on how to find the best solution.

 

When does Dutch law apply to divorce (part 1)?

If you have moved to the Netherlands, you may be in for some surprises when filing for divorce. For instance, it may turn out that you are married in community of property. Couples often are not aware of this until one of them files for divorce.

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Tax aspects in international divorce

It is important for one to be familiar with the tax aspects of an international divorce when filing for divorce. Thus, it is advisable to seek tax advice during (international) divorce proceedings.

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Changes in international family law

In the EU, most matters of international family law are regulated by the European Commission. The Commission draws upon the Hague Conference on International Private Law. Recently, legislative efforts in Brussels and The Hague have resulted in three significant changes. These changes will reshape some core aspects of international family law.

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