Family lawyers for Guangzhou's international community
Guangzhou has one of the longest-established foreign communities in China. Traders from Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Russia; teachers and consultants from Europe, North America and Australia; and a large overseas Chinese diaspora with family roots across Guangdong all have reasons to need a family lawyer here. Many of our Guangzhou clients have lived in the city for years, married locally and built businesses and homes — which makes separation both emotionally and legally complicated.
Our office in the CTF Finance Centre, Tianhe, is a short metro ride from most of the city's international neighbourhoods. We work in English and Chinese, and colleagues on our Africa desk regularly support clients from across the continent.
Family matters we typically handle in Guangzhou
- Divorce involving a foreign spouse — including couples who married abroad and therefore generally cannot use the registry route. See divorce for foreigners in Guangzhou.
- Contested divorce litigation — when a spouse refuses to agree, cannot be found or has left China. See contested divorce in Guangzhou.
- Child custody and support — including cases where one parent plans to return to their home country with the children. See child custody in Guangzhou.
- Inheritance of Guangzhou property by heirs living overseas — a very common matter for overseas Chinese families. See inheritance in Guangzhou.
- Recognition of foreign divorce judgments so that a divorce obtained abroad can be used in China.
- Marriage registration and prenuptial agreements for international couples.
How meetings work
You are welcome to meet us in Tianhe, and many clients find a face-to-face meeting reassuring at the start. But we also run full matters by video, email, WeChat and WhatsApp for clients who live in other cities or overseas. In most court matters we can act for you under a notarised and apostilled power of attorney, although a registry divorce requires both spouses in person and a court may occasionally ask you to attend.
The first 30-minute consultation is free and confidential. We will listen, explain where you stand under Chinese law, and suggest a sensible next step — which is sometimes simply waiting, negotiating or gathering documents before anything is filed.
Before your first consultation
It helps to send us a short timeline of your marriage and separation, copies of your marriage certificate and passports, and a list of the main assets and debts you know about. If you are worried about your children being moved, or about money being transferred, tell us at the start — some protective steps need to be taken early. See our child custody and property division pages for background.
Court and registry matters in Guangzhou
Most divorce and custody cases start at the district-level people's court, while recognition of foreign and Hong Kong judgments goes to the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court. Foreign-related marriage and divorce registration takes place only at designated registries. We handle filing, translation and apostille requirements, court attendance and follow-up enforcement, and keep you updated in plain language at each stage.
Outcomes depend on the facts of each case and we never guarantee a result. Contact our Guangzhou office to talk through your situation.
Family courts in Guangzhou
Divorce, custody and child-support cases are generally heard first by the basic (district) people's court where the defendant is domiciled — for example the courts of Tianhe, Yuexiu, Haizhu, Liwan, Baiyun or Panyu districts. If the defendant does not live in 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 Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court, which also hears appeals from the district courts.
Marriage & divorce registration in Guangzhou
Marriage and agreed-divorce registration is handled by the marriage registries of the Guangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau system. Registrations involving a foreign national are handled only at designated registries, with both parties attending in person. The designated office, appointment arrangements and required documents can change, so check current requirements before you go — we are happy to confirm them for you. Since 10 May 2025, registration is nationwide: where one partner is a mainland resident, you can use any registry authorised for foreign-related matters anywhere in China, not only one in your hukou city, and the Chinese partner needs only a resident ID card and a signed declaration (no hukou booklet).
Family lawyers in Guangzhou
Divorce
Children
Property & Agreements
Cross-Border
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to come to your Guangzhou office in person?
No. You are welcome in Tianhe, but many clients work with us entirely by video, email, WeChat or WhatsApp. For most court matters a notarised and apostilled power of attorney lets us act on your behalf. Registry divorces are the main exception — both spouses must attend.
My spouse and I married outside China. Can we divorce at a Guangzhou registry?
Generally not. Registry divorce usually requires the marriage to have been registered in mainland China. Couples who married abroad normally need to divorce through the court — even if they agree on everything, the court can confirm their agreement by mediation.
My parent left an apartment in Guangzhou and I live abroad. What happens now?
Real estate in China is governed by Chinese law, whatever the nationality of the deceased or the heirs. Heirs usually go through a notarised succession process or court proceedings, and documents from abroad need an apostille or legalisation and a Chinese translation. Much of this can be done through a power of attorney.