Family law

• Divorce and separation, by mutual agreement or contested.
• Child custody, visiting rights and child maintenance.
• Variation of existing arrangements (modificación de medidas) when income, work or the children’s circumstances change.
• Recognition in Spain of divorces and judgments issued in other countries.
• An attempt to reach agreement before going to court (MASC), which the law generally requires before a claim is filed.
• Enforcing what was agreed when maintenance is not paid or the visiting arrangements are not complied with.

Before filing a claim for divorce or for variation of existing arrangements (modificación de medidas), the law generally requires an attempt to reach agreement through an appropriate dispute resolution method. We explain how to do this and whether your case is one of the exceptions. In cases of violence against women, the law does not allow these methods.

• Your DNI, NIE or passport.
• Family book (libro de familia) or marriage certificate and the children’s birth certificates.
• The previous judgment or agreement, if there is one.
• Payslips, income tax return and fixed expenses, such as your mortgage or rent.
• If the divorce or judgment is from another country, the original document, legalised or apostilled.