“I was advised by Pauline on my divorce. She was excellent. Sound practical advice, telling you what the score was. Other solicitors are a little too focused on just giving you options. Pauline tells you what is likely to happen at each stage and advises you on the best steps.
She is also happy to tell you the most cost effective way to achieve your goals, even if that means completing certain tasks on your own.
Would highly recommend.” – Google Review
How our international divorce Solicitors can help
Expert advice from specialist international divorce solicitors on complex cross-border finances, overseas assets, and protecting wealth during divorce.
Ranked in Chambers and Partners for family and divorce law, our international divorce Solicitors have advised clients from around the world for over 20 years. We established our firm in 2005 with a clear focus to handle complex and high-net-worth financial settlements, including divorce with international elements, with the rigour, legal strategy, and compassion they demand.
Our extensive combined experience in divorce law means we can advise on all aspects of international divorce, from whether you can file for divorce in England and Wales to financial settlements involving assets abroad and child arrangement issues where one parent lives overseas.
Why Us?
Why instruct Purcell Solicitors for your international divorce
Recognised as a Band 2 Leading Firm in Chambers and Partners, our team of highly experienced solicitors, mediators and arbitrators has guided many people through complex divorce, separation and financial settlements, including cases involving international assets and cross‑border issues, for over 20 years. This ranking reflects not just our legal expertise but our proven track record in securing the best possible outcomes for our clients.
In the words of Chambers and Partners:
“Purcell Solicitors is a well-regarded boutique firm that draws praise for its assistance with divorce proceedings. The team in Milton Keynes is active in matrimonial finance cases, including those involving complex business assets and overseas property, and also advises on Children Act proceedings. The firm provides a highly capable mediation department.”
We are absolutely committed to treating you with the care and understanding you deserve. We know that your family’s circumstances are unique, and we never lose sight of that. Whether your case involves international moves, overseas assets, or children living in different countries, we bring both analytical rigour and genuine human compassion to every case.
By entrusting one of our international divorce solicitors to handle the process on your behalf, you can reduce uncertainty about which country’s law will apply and how your case will be resolved. Choosing us lets you focus on your needs and your children’s well-being.
Our international divorce solicitors will find the most cost-effective, fair, and lasting solutions for your situation and will keep you informed at every stage.
Get in touch today to discuss your situation in complete confidence.
Get in touch today to discuss your situation in complete confidence.
Purcell Solicitors is where expert legal knowledge meets genuine human understanding. Your family deserves both.
We will work with you and advise you in relation to:
Initial advice on whether you can start divorce proceedings in England and Wales.
Assessing which country, or countries, have jurisdiction to deal with your divorce and financial matters.
Advising on the advantages and disadvantages of issuing proceedings in England and Wales.
Urgent advice where there is a risk that your former partner may start proceedings in another country.
International financial settlements, including overseas property, foreign bank accounts, pensions, trusts, and business interests abroad.
Recognition and enforcement of foreign divorce decrees and financial orders in England and Wales.
Child arrangements where one or both parents, or the children, live abroad.
International relocation and child abduction matters, working with specialist counsel where required.
Drafting and negotiating separation agreements and pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements with international elements.
Representation in financial remedy and children proceedings where international issues arise.
Liaising with solicitors advising you in other jurisdictions.
Our-Expertise
Who we are
Our core international divorce team is made up of
Pauline Purcell, Managing Director, Family Solicitor, Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer and Family Arbitrator, with over 30 years of experience.
Mandi Austin, Director, Family Law Solicitor, a member of Resolution and an accredited specialist on the Law Society Family Law Panel, with over 25 years of experience in family law as a qualified solicitor.
Lisa Buckridge, Director, Family Law Solicitor, Collaborative Lawyer, Family Mediation Council-accredited Mediator, and fully accredited in Child Inclusive Mediation, with over 20 years of experience in family law
Haidee French – Family Law Solicitor, a Member of Resolution and an accredited specialist on the Law Society Family Law Panel with over 12 years of experience in family law
Can I apply for financial orders in England after a foreign divorce?
In some circumstances, yes. If you divorced abroad and did not receive fair financial provision, you may be able to apply for financial relief in England and Wales under Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984. This is a specialist area, and permission from the court is required before your claim can proceed.
The court will consider factors such as your connection to England and Wales, the level of provision made abroad, and the location of assets. We can advise you on whether such an application may be appropriate.
Can I divorce in England and Wales if I live abroad?
You may be able to divorce in England and Wales even if you live abroad, depending on your connection to this country. The court looks at factors such as where you and your former partner are domiciled, where you are habitually resident, and for how long you have been living there. If you or your former partner has a sufficient connection to England and Wales, the courts here may have jurisdiction.
You may also have the option of choosing more than one country. In those cases, it is important to obtain early advice because the first country where proceedings are properly started can sometimes keep the case.
Do I need a solicitor who specialises in international divorce?
Expert legal advice is strongly recommended where international issues arise. Jurisdiction and cross-border enforcement are complex, and early errors can be difficult to correct. A solicitor experienced in international divorce can help you understand your options, advise on where to start proceedings, coordinate with overseas lawyers if required, and structure settlements that are effective in practice.
You should instruct a solicitor if:
You or your former partner lives or works abroad
You have assets or pensions overseas
You were married abroad or hold different nationalities
There is a risk that your former partner may start proceedings in another country
Your former partner has already begun divorce proceedings abroad
Children are living in, or may move to, another country
Does it matter which country I divorce in?
Yes. The jurisdiction in which your divorce is decided can significantly impact financial outcomes, asset division, maintenance assessments, and treatment of pensions or business interests. England and Wales are often seen as a favourable jurisdiction, especially for the financially weaker party, because of the court's wide powers to achieve fairness.
Other countries may have more restrictive regimes or treat certain assets differently. If you have a potential choice of jurisdictions, you should obtain urgent advice before any proceedings are issued, because timing can be critical.
How are children’s arrangements decided in an international divorce?
Child arrangements in international cases focus on where the children will live, which country they will be based in, and how they will maintain a relationship with both parents. The court applies the welfare principle and considers factors such as the child's wishes and feelings, needs, and the impact of any change.
How are finances divided in an international divorce?
The financial division in an international divorce follows the same broad principles as in other cases in England and Wales. The court considers needs, resources, standard of living during the marriage, ages and health, earning capacity, contributions, and the welfare of any children. The difference is that some or all of the assets may be held abroad or be subject to foreign law.
The court can make orders in relation to assets overseas, but practical enforcement may depend on local law in the country where the assets are located. We work with overseas lawyers and advisers where necessary to understand how any English order can be recognised or enforced abroad and to structure settlements that are workable in practice.
How much does an international divorce cost?
The cost depends on the complexity of your case and the number of countries involved. Cases that require advice from overseas lawyers, valuation of foreign assets, or contested jurisdiction hearings are usually more costly than straightforward divorces. Our fees for advising on international divorce form part of your overall financial settlement and children law costs and vary from case to case.
We offer an initial meeting to discuss and advise on your situation at a fixed fee of £300 inclusive of VAT. We can then provide you with an estimate of likely costs after that meeting. We do everything possible to help our clients resolve matters through non-court dispute resolution methods to minimise cost and stress.
What about the family home if we live in different countries?
If the family home is in England and Wales, the court here can deal with it as part of your financial settlement, even if one of you lives abroad. If the family home is abroad, the court can, in principle, take it into account and make orders regarding property division, but enforcement overseas may require orders from the local courts.
Where the children live, their schooling, and their day-to-day arrangements will influence decisions about property. The court's first consideration is the children's welfare, including their housing needs.
What if my spouse starts divorce proceedings in another country?
If your spouse starts proceedings abroad, you may still be able to start or continue proceedings in England and Wales in some circumstances, but complex jurisdiction rules apply. The approach will depend on whether the other country is within the UK or EU, or outside those frameworks, and on how far those proceedings have progressed.
You should seek urgent legal advice, providing full details of the foreign proceedings, so we can assess your options. In some cases, you may need advice from lawyers in both countries to understand the best way forward.
What is “forum shopping”, and should I be concerned about it?
Forum shopping describes choosing the country that is most favourable to your position when starting divorce or financial proceedings. This is lawful, provided the state has jurisdiction, but it can lead to disputes where both parties wish to litigate in different countries.
If there is a risk that your former partner may start proceedings abroad in a country that is less favourable to you, you should seek advice immediately. It may be possible to start proceedings in England and Wales first, which can influence where the case is decided.
What is an international divorce?
An international divorce is a divorce involving a cross-border element. This can include one or both of you living abroad, assets in different countries, a marriage that took place overseas, or different nationalities and domiciles. International divorces raise additional questions about which country's courts can deal with the case, which law applies, and how any orders will be enforced abroad.
Will my foreign divorce be recognised in England and Wales?
Many foreign divorces are recognised in England and Wales, especially if they were obtained in the country where you or your former partner were domiciled or habitually resident and proper procedures were followed. However, not all foreign divorces are automatically recognised.
If your divorce took place abroad, we can advise you on whether it is likely to be recognised here and what further steps may be required. In some cases, a foreign divorce may be recognised for marital status, but you may still need to make a separate application in England and Wales for financial relief.
