How we work with clients in Shenzhen
Our Shenzhen office in Nanshan District is the firm's family-law base, helping expat families, mixed-nationality couples and Hong Kong–Shenzhen cross-border families with divorce, custody, property and inheritance. We work in English and Chinese, in person or by video.
Family law in ShenzhenWhich court handles it 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.
How child custody & visitation works with us in Shenzhen
- 1
Confidential first call
A free 30-minute consultation (at our Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen.
- 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 Shenzhen: FAQs
Do I need to meet a lawyer in person in Shenzhen for child custody & visitation?
No. Many clients meet us at our Shenzhen 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.
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.
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