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.
Marieke has been a family lawyer since 1998. After working for Wladimirov and Spong Advocaten, she joined GMW lawyers in 2000. Marieke has a particular interest in the ever complicated and intricate world of international inheritance law and she has been leading this section for the last 5 years. She is also involved in conducting proceedings and negotiations in complicated international divorce issues.
In the break-up of relationships, she will achieve the best result while avoiding animosity wherever possible, looking after the interests of any children. She has a keen eye for the financial aspects of both inheritance and divorce issues and has established an excellent reputation in cases that require unusually close attention because of emotional entanglements.
Outside of her work, Marieke often acts as a guest speaker at seminars for the Worldwide Fund for Nature.
