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Guides
Plain-English answers on divorce, custody, property and cross-border family law in China — written by our lawyers.
A step-by-step guide for Hong Kong residents inheriting a flat, bank deposits or other assets in mainland China: which law applies, the order of heirs, notarisation or court, documents attested in Hong Kong, time limits and costs.
Read the guideSince 2025 China pays RMB 3,600 a year for each child under three, and most provinces have extended marriage leave. How the subsidy works, who can claim it after separation, why it is not child support, and what marriage leave you can expect.
Read the guideNeed to prove your Chinese divorce overseas to remarry, update records or deal with property? How notarial certificates, apostilles and translations work, and why recognition abroad depends on each country.
Read the guideA foreign divorce is not automatically effective in mainland China. When you need recognition, how to apply to the Intermediate People's Court, documents, refusal grounds and timelines.
Read the guideThe court fee for a divorce in China is modest, but lawyer fees, appraisals, translations and service abroad can add up. Here is what drives the real cost and how fees are structured.
Read the guideIf your China residence permit is based on marriage to a Chinese citizen, divorce generally removes that basis. What to report, the options for switching, and what foreign parents of Chinese children can do.
Read the guideChina's official divorce rate was 2.5 per 1,000 people in 2024, with 3.513 million divorces and 6.106 million marriage registrations. Official Ministry of Civil Affairs data from 2020 to 2025, what the 2021 cooling-off period changed, and how to read the numbers.
Read the guideIf you are experiencing domestic violence in China, a personal safety protection order can legally keep the abuser away. Here is who can apply, what evidence helps and how fast courts act.
Read the guideUnder the Supreme People's Court rules in force since 1 February 2024, whether a bride price must be returned depends on marriage registration, how long the couple lived together, the amount and local custom. A plain-English guide, including for international couples.
Read the guideYes, nationality is not a legal bar to custody in China. How courts weigh the child's best interests for a foreign father or mother, the under-2 and 8+ rules, cross-border visitation plans and preventing removal.
Read the guideIt depends which Hague Convention you mean. Mainland China is not party to the Child Abduction Convention (Hong Kong and Macao are), but has applied the Apostille Convention since 7 November 2023 and the Service Convention since 1992.
Read the guideSame-sex marriage is not recognised in mainland China, but couples can still protect each other with voluntary guardianship, wills, co-ownership and cohabitation agreements, and powers of attorney. A practical, respectful guide.
Read the guideHow to use a Chinese marriage certificate (结婚证) abroad: notarial certificates, translation, apostille since November 2023, the difference from a marital status certificate, and replacing a lost certificate under the 2025 nationwide rules.
Read the guideA practical guide for foreigners divorcing a Chinese wife or husband: where to file, registry vs court, translation, hidden assets, family-owned property, custody, children's passports and your residence permit.
Read the guideForeigners and overseas heirs can generally inherit property in China. We explain which law applies, who inherits without a will, and how to transfer a flat or bank account from abroad.
Read the guideChina does not recognise dual nationality, yet many children of international couples hold two passports. How Chinese nationality is decided at birth, what the Chinese travel document is for, and why nationality matters in custody and relocation.
Read the guideVisitation rights in China belong to every non-custodial parent. How to draft a contact schedule that works, what to do when the other parent blocks contact, and when visitation can be suspended.
Read the guideNo, mainland China does not currently levy inheritance or estate tax. But inheriting property still involves costs: notarisation or court fees, possible deed tax for non-heirs, registration fees and taxes when you later sell.
Read the guideMainland China is not a party to the Hague Child Abduction Convention. What that means if your spouse takes your child to China, how to reduce the risk, and what remedies exist.
Read the guideDivorcing a spouse who lives overseas, or filing in China while you live abroad? Learn which court has jurisdiction, how service abroad works, realistic timelines and when you must appear in person.
Read the guideEverything you need to know about divorce law in China as of 2026: the two divorce routes, grounds, whether China has no-fault divorce or alimony, custody, child support, property, foreign-related cases, costs and timelines.
Read the guideChinese courts can stop a party to an unresolved civil case, including a Chinese citizen or a foreigner, from leaving China, most often at the enforcement stage. Here is when exit bans are used in family disputes, their limits, and how to reduce the risk of a child's removal.
Read the guideFor international couples, where you file for divorce can shape property, custody and how long it takes. We compare divorcing in China with divorcing abroad and explain the key factors.
Read the guideIf you marry a Chinese citizen, you can generally live in China on a Q1 visa followed by a family-reunion residence permit. Here is how the Q and S visas work, when permanent residence is possible, and what divorce does to your status.
Read the guideSuspect your spouse is hiding assets in a Chinese divorce? Learn the warning signs, how lawyers and courts trace money and property, and the penalties under Civil Code Article 1092.
Read the guideHow child support in China is calculated: the 20–30% of income guideline, the 50% cap for several children, irregular income, how long payments last, increases and enforcement.
Read the guideYour spouse will not agree, ignores the court or cannot be found. You can still get divorced in China through the courts. How refusal, service by publication, the one-year rule and declarations of missing status work.
Read the guideSince November 2023, an apostille replaces consular legalisation for documents from most countries. Here is how to prepare foreign documents, and translations, for Chinese registries, courts and notaries.
Read the guideHow is property divided in a Chinese divorce? A clear guide to community versus separate property, how courts split assets, the family home, debts, and when one spouse can get more.
Read the guideHow child custody in China is decided: the under-two and age-eight rules, the best-interests factors courts weigh, joint custody, visitation, and what international parents should know.
Read the guideIs there a new divorce law in China for 2025 or 2026? No. The cooling-off period dates from 2021. What did change: Interpretation II (1 February 2025) on parents' house money, fake divorce, gifts to third parties, loyalty agreements and custody, plus the May 2025 registration rules.
Read the guideWho keeps the home in a Chinese divorce depends on when it was bought, who paid, whose name is on the title and what parents contributed. Here is how courts approach it in 2026.
Read the guideWhat happens in a contested divorce in China: filing, mediation, the hearing, why first petitions are often refused, the six-month and one-year rules, timelines and how to prepare evidence.
Read the guideYes — Chinese law allows couples to agree their own property regime. Learn when a prenuptial agreement is enforceable in China, what it cannot cover and how international couples should draft one.
Read the guidePlanning to move overseas with your child after a divorce in China? How custody, the other parent's visitation rights, written consent and court orders affect relocation, and how to plan it properly.
Read the guideHow China's 30-day divorce cooling-off period works, who it applies to, what happens if a spouse withdraws or misses the second appointment, and when going to court is the better option.
Read the guideHow Chinese courts treat company shares in a divorce: when equity is community property, how businesses are valued, and why the non-owner spouse usually receives cash rather than shares.
Read the guidePlanning to marry a Chinese citizen in mainland China? Here are the 2026 marriage registration requirements for foreigners: documents, the single-status certificate, apostille, translation and where to register.
Read the guideThe two routes to divorce in China as a foreigner, registry and court, explained step by step: who qualifies, documents, the cooling-off period, timelines, costs and using the divorce abroad.
Read the guideSince February 2022, Hong Kong and mainland China recognise each other's divorce, custody, maintenance and property orders under a dedicated arrangement. Here is how the process works and what to prepare.
Read the guideFrom about 30 to 60 days for an agreed registry divorce to a year or more for a contested or foreign-related case: a realistic, stage-by-stage guide to divorce timelines in China.
Read the guideA free, private 30-minute consultation in English or Chinese. We'll explain your options, likely timeline and costs, and what to do first — with no pressure to go further.