How we work with clients in Guangzhou
Our Guangzhou office in Tianhe helps foreign residents, international traders and their families, and overseas Chinese with family ties in Guangdong through divorce, custody, property and inheritance matters. We also serve clients in Foshan and Zhuhai from here.
Family law in GuangzhouWhich court handles it 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.
How child custody & visitation works with us in Guangzhou
- 1
Confidential first call
A free 30-minute consultation (at our Guangzhou office or by video) 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 Guangzhou.
- 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 Guangzhou: FAQs
Do I need to meet a lawyer in person in Guangzhou for child custody & visitation?
No. Many clients meet us at our Guangzhou office, but most of the work can be done by video, phone, email, WeChat or WhatsApp — including for clients living outside China. Court hearings and some registry steps may still require attendance, and we tell you early exactly when that is.
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.
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