How we work with clients in Zhuhai
We help Macau–Zhuhai cross-border couples, Hong Kong residents and foreign families in Zhuhai with divorce, custody, property and inheritance. We have no office in Zhuhai and serve clients from our Guangzhou office and by video, meeting locally when needed.
Family law in ZhuhaiWhich court handles it in Zhuhai?
Divorce, custody and child-support cases are generally heard first by the basic (district) people's court where the defendant is domiciled — Zhuhai's districts are Xiangzhou, Doumen and Jinwan. If the defendant lives outside mainland China (for example in Macau or Hong Kong), the court of the plaintiff's domicile can often hear a divorce.
Recognition of foreign divorce judgments and Hong Kong–Mainland arrangement applications go to the Zhuhai Intermediate People's Court, which also hears appeals. We confirm the correct court for addresses in Hengqin and other special areas.
How child custody & visitation works with us in Zhuhai
- 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 Zhuhai.
- 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 Zhuhai: FAQs
Do I need to meet a lawyer in person in Zhuhai for child custody & visitation?
No. We don't have an office in Zhuhai; clients there are looked after by our Guangzhou team by video, phone, WeChat or WhatsApp, and we meet locally or attend Zhuhai courts and registries in person whenever the case requires it.
My spouse works in Macau and I live in Zhuhai. Where should we divorce?
It depends on where each of you is domiciled, where your property is and where the children live. A Zhuhai court can often hear the case if you are domiciled here, but the order may then need to be used in Macau. We look at where the order will need to work before recommending a forum.
Do you have an office in Zhuhai?
No. We serve Zhuhai clients from our Guangzhou office and by video, and travel to Zhuhai for meetings and hearings when needed.
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