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The 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.