How we work with clients in Foshan
We help foreign residents, overseas Chinese families and mixed-nationality couples connected to Foshan with divorce, custody, property and inheritance. We have no office in Foshan and serve clients from our Guangzhou office and by video, meeting locally when needed.
Family law in FoshanWhich court handles it in Foshan?
Divorce, custody and child-support cases are generally heard first by the basic (district) people's court where the defendant is domiciled — Foshan's districts are Chancheng, Nanhai, Shunde, Gaoming and Sanshui. If the defendant lives outside mainland China, the court of the plaintiff's domicile can often hear a divorce.
Recognition of foreign divorce judgments, and applications under the Hong Kong–Mainland matrimonial arrangement, go to the Foshan Intermediate People's Court, which also hears appeals from the district courts.
How child custody & visitation works with us in Foshan
- 1
Confidential first call
A free 30-minute consultation (by video or phone) to understand your situation and goals.
- 2
Strategy & written quote
Your options, the evidence needed, a realistic timeline and costs — fixed fees wherever the scope is defined.
- 3
Preparation & filing
We draft the documents, gather evidence and file with the competent court or registry for Foshan.
- 4
Negotiation, mediation or trial
We represent you throughout and report in English or Chinese at every step, through to enforcement.
Child custody in China: putting your child's interests first
For most parents, the children are the hardest part of a divorce. If you are worried about child custody in China, you probably want to know what the court will look at, what you can do to protect your relationship with your child, and how to avoid a fight that harms everyone. This page explains custody and visitation rules as of 2026 under the PRC Civil Code, and how our bilingual family team in Shenzhen and Guangzhou helps parents, including foreign and cross-border families.
Custody terms in Chinese law
Chinese law does not use the word "custody" in quite the same way as many other systems. The key concept is direct custody or "direct raising" (直接抚养): which parent the child lives with and is raised by day to day.
- After divorce, both parents remain parents with rights and duties to raise, educate and protect the child (Civil Code Art. 1084).
- The parent without direct custody has visitation rights and must pay child support.
Child Custody & Visitation in Foshan: FAQs
Do I need to meet a lawyer in person in Foshan for child custody & visitation?
No. We don't have an office in Foshan; clients there are looked after by our Guangzhou team by video, phone, WeChat or WhatsApp, and we meet locally or attend Foshan courts and registries in person whenever the case requires it.
Do you have an office in Foshan?
No. Foshan clients are served by our Guangzhou office in Tianhe and by video. Our lawyers travel to Foshan for meetings and hearings when that is useful.
My parents helped pay for our Foshan home. Will my spouse get half?
Not necessarily. The answer depends on when the money was paid, whether it was a gift to you alone or to both of you, whose name is on the title, and any written agreement. Interpretation II (effective 1 February 2025) gives courts more guidance here, and courts can weigh the parents' contribution when dividing the home.
Who usually gets custody in a divorce in China?
There is no automatic rule for all ages. A child under two will in principle live with the mother, a child aged eight or older has their true wishes respected, and in other cases the court decides based on the child's best interests, often favouring the parent who has been the main carer.
At what age can a child choose which parent to live with in China?
From age eight, the court must respect the child's true wishes. Judges usually talk to the child to understand their genuine preference, and will look carefully at whether the child has been pressured.
Is joint custody possible in China?
Joint or alternating arrangements are increasingly accepted in practice where both parents agree, such as the child living with each parent in turn. They work best when parents live close together and can cooperate.
Can a foreign parent get custody in China?
Yes. Nationality is not a legal bar to custody; the court looks at the child's best interests. Practical issues such as residence status, where the child will live and schooling will be considered, so preparation matters.
Related guides
Visitation Rights in China: Making a Contact Schedule Work (and Enforcing It)
Visitation 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 guideHow Chinese Courts Decide Child Custody
How 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 guideMoving Abroad With Your Child After a Divorce in China
Planning 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 guide