Family lawyers for Shenzhen's international families
Shenzhen is one of the youngest and most international cities in China. Engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs and their families arrive from all over the world, and tens of thousands of couples live their lives across the Hong Kong–Shenzhen border — one spouse working in Central, the other running a business in Futian, the children at school in Nanshan. When a marriage runs into difficulty here, the legal questions are rarely simple: which court, which law, which country's documents, and what happens to the children.
Our Shenzhen office in Nanshan District is where most of our family-law work begins. Our lawyers work in English and Chinese, and we are used to explaining Chinese family law to people who have never been inside a Chinese court.
Family matters we typically handle in Shenzhen
- Divorce for foreigners and mixed-nationality couples — whether you can use the registry route or need to go to court, and what a Chinese divorce means back home. See divorce for foreigners in Shenzhen.
- Hong Kong–Shenzhen cross-border divorces — including recognition and enforcement of Hong Kong orders on the mainland (and mainland orders in Hong Kong) under the 2022 arrangement. See cross-border family matters.
- Child custody and visitation — for parents who fear losing contact with a child, or who plan to relocate. See child custody in Shenzhen.
- Property division for business owners — company equity, Shenzhen apartments bought with parents' help, and assets held in Hong Kong. See property division.
- Protection orders where there is domestic violence, including urgent applications.
- Prenuptial agreements, marriage registration and inheritance for international families.
How meetings work
Many clients prefer to come to our Nanshan office for the first detailed meeting, especially when documents need to be reviewed. Just as many never visit at all: we regularly run matters by video, email, WeChat and WhatsApp for clients elsewhere in China, in Hong Kong or overseas. Where you cannot be in Shenzhen, a notarised and apostilled power of attorney often allows us to act for you — although a registry divorce always requires both spouses in person, and courts sometimes ask a party to attend.
Your first 30-minute consultation is free and confidential. We use it to understand what has happened, tell you honestly what your options are, and give you an idea of cost and timing.
Court and registry matters in Shenzhen
Contested divorce, custody and support cases are generally filed at the district-level people's court, and applications to recognise a foreign or Hong Kong judgment go to the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court. Agreed divorces between a Chinese citizen and a foreigner are handled at a designated marriage registry. We prepare the papers, check what the particular court or registry currently requires, arrange certified translations and apostilled documents, and attend hearings with you or for you.
Every family is different, and we will never promise a particular outcome. What we can promise is a clear plan, honest advice and a team that answers your messages. Contact our Shenzhen office to arrange a consultation.
Family courts in Shenzhen
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 Futian, Luohu, Nanshan, Bao'an, Longgang or Longhua districts. Where the defendant lives outside mainland China (including Hong Kong), the court where the plaintiff is domiciled can often hear a status case such as divorce.
Applications to recognise a foreign divorce judgment, and applications under the Hong Kong–Mainland matrimonial arrangement, go to the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court, which also hears appeals from the district courts.
Marriage & divorce registration in Shenzhen
Marriage and agreed-divorce registration is handled by the marriage registry of the Shenzhen Civil Affairs Bureau system. Registrations involving a foreign national (and, in many cases, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan residents) can only be handled at designated registries, and both spouses must attend in person. Appointment systems, the designated office and document lists change from time to time — check the current requirements before you go, or ask us 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 Shenzhen
Divorce
Children
Property & Agreements
Cross-Border
Frequently asked questions
Can I file for divorce in Shenzhen if my spouse lives in Hong Kong?
Generally yes, if you are domiciled in Shenzhen. For status cases such as divorce against a defendant who does not live in mainland China, the court where the plaintiff lives can usually hear the case. Service on a spouse in Hong Kong goes through the mainland–Hong Kong service arrangement, so allow extra time. We can also advise whether filing in Hong Kong would suit you better.
Do I need to come to your Shenzhen office in person?
No. Many clients work with us entirely by video, email and WeChat. You are welcome at our Nanshan office, but documents can be signed remotely and, in most court matters, we can act under a notarised power of attorney. A registry divorce, however, requires both spouses in person.
We have a Hong Kong divorce order. Does it work in Shenzhen?
Not automatically. Since 15 February 2022, Hong Kong matrimonial judgments can be recognised and enforced on the mainland under a reciprocal arrangement, by application to an Intermediate People's Court such as the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court. Once recognised, the order can be used, for example, to update property records or remarry.