divorce lawyers in the Netherlands
List of English-speaking divorce attorneys in the Netherlands
Who are the best divorce lawyers in the Netherlands?
Choosing the best divorce lawyer in the Netherlands can be a challenge, especially if you do not speak Dutch and are not familiar with the Dutch legal system. The Dutch Law Institute has therefore compiled the following list of recommended Dutch divorce lawyers to assist English speakers in their search. However, making this selection from the approximately 19,000 lawyers in the Netherlands ('advocaten', members of the Dutch Bar Association) was anything but easy.
Using a variety of sources, the committee compiled the following list of English-speaking divorce lawyers in the Netherlands who can be recommended:
The divorce procedure in the Netherlands requires careful preparation and submission of various documents, with special attention to the parenting plan if minor children are involved. For specific cases and further legal guidance, it is recommended to seek professional legal advice form a good divorce lawyer in the Netherlands.
A skilled Dutch divorce lawyer will thoroughly explain your rights and obligations under Dutch law. Whether it involves the division of assets, child custody, or spousal support, they break down complex legal language into actionable steps. For example, they can clarify whether a case qualifies for administrative divorce or requires court intervention, ensuring no detail is overlooked.
A good divorce lawyer develops a personalized approach based on the unique circumstances of your case. If you face disputes over property division, they will assess the marital assets, debts, and relevant laws to propose a fair solution. Similarly, if children are involved, they will seek to prioritize the child's best interests.
Divorce can be emotionally charged, making it difficult to resolve conflicts objectively. A top divorce lawyer acts as a mediator, helping both parties reach amicable agreements whenever possible. Their negotiation skills are particularly valuable in resolving contentious issues like spousal or child support, aiming to avoid prolonged and expensive court battles.
In cases where disputes cannot be settled out of court, a good divorce lawyer will represent you effectively before a Dutch judge. They present evidence, make persuasive arguments, and protect your interests, whether it concerns parental custody, alimony, or asset division. Their courtroom experience ensures you are well-represented during legal proceedings.
Grounds for Divorce in the Netherlands
The grounds for divorce under Dutch law are the following;
- Irretrievable Breakdown of the Marriage - The most common ground for divorce is the 'irretrievable breakdown' of the marriage. This means that the marriage is so disrupted that continuation is no longer possible. This ground provides an objective measure for the judge to determine whether the marriage is irreparably damaged.
- Adultery - Adultery is a classic ground for divorce and is considered a serious breach of marital fidelity. It is an absolute ground, meaning that the petitioner is entitled to a divorce once adultery is proven.
- Abuse - Abuse by one of the spouses, endangering the life of the other spouse or causing serious injuries, is also a ground for divorce. This ground protects the physical and emotional safety of the spouses.
- Prolonged Separation - When spouses have been separated for a long period (at least five years) without reconciliation, this can be a ground for divorce. This provides an exit for spouses who have been living apart for a long time and see no chance of restoring their marriage.
Divorce procedure in the Netherlands
A divorce can be requested by one of the spouses or jointly. The petition is submitted to the court. This petition must include, among other things, a copy or extract of the marriage certificate, as well as documents concerning the grounds on which the court has jurisdiction.
If minor children are involved, it is mandatory to submit a parenting plan. This plan must include agreements on:
- The division of care and upbringing tasks.
- The right and obligation to visitation.
- The manner in which the spouses will inform and consult each other on important matters concerning the children.
- The costs of the care and upbringing of the minor children.
- The petition must also state which provisions have been agreed upon and which provisions are disputed, including the grounds for the disagreement. It must also indicate how the children were involved in the drafting of the parenting plan.
The following documents must be submitted with the petition:
- A copy or extract of the marriage certificate.
- Documents concerning the grounds on which the court has jurisdiction.
- A copy or extract of the birth certificate of each minor child of the spouses.
- The procedural documents relating to provisional measures, if requested.
If the parenting plan or the required documents cannot reasonably be provided, other documents may suffice or other arrangements may be made, subject to the court's discretion.
Administrative Divorce in the Netherlands
Administrative divorce offers a modern and efficient way to terminate a marriage without court intervention, provided certain conditions are met. For specific cases and further legal guidance, it is recommended to seek professional legal advice from a good Dutch divorce lawyer.
Under Dutch law, an administrative divorce may be possible under the following conditions:
- Minor Children - Administrative divorce is only possible if no minor children are involved. This means that the spouses must not have joint or sole custody of minor children.
- Mutual Consent - Both spouses must agree to the divorce. This mutual consent is essential to complete the procedure without court intervention.
- Involvement of a Notary or Divorce Mediator - The divorce must be handled with the assistance of a notary or divorce mediator. These professionals ensure the legal processing and compliance with all formal requirements.
- Written Declaration - The spouses must sign a written declaration confirming that they are legally married under Dutch law and have jointly chosen to apply Dutch law to the divorce.
The procedure for administrative divorce is as follows:
- Submission of the Written Declaration - The spouses submit a written declaration to the civil registrar. This declaration must be signed by both spouses and one or more lawyers, notaries, or divorce mediators.
- Review by the Civil Registrar - The civil registrar assesses whether all formal conditions are met. If so, the divorce is recorded in the civil registry.
- Registration of the Deed - The administrative divorce is finalized by registering the deed in the civil registry. This marks the formal termination of the marriage.
While administrative divorce offers an efficient and less costly option, there are some limitations:
- Recognition Abroad - Recognition of administrative divorces abroad can be problematic. However, under the Brussels IIbis Regulation, it is not required that a divorce be granted by a court, as long as a competent authority pronounces the divorce.
- Symbolic Significance - For some parties, court intervention has symbolic significance that they do not want to miss. This can be a reason to opt for a judicial procedure instead.
Spousal support under Dutch law
Financial arrangements after a divorce, including spousal support, child support, and the division of joint assets and debts, require careful consideration and legal documentation. These arrangements can be recorded in a covenant and are generally legally binding. The court plays a significant role in ensuring a fair and equitable division of assets and debts. For specific cases and further legal guidance, it is recommended to seek professional legal advice from a divorce lawyer.
Spousal support, also known as partner alimony, is a financial contribution that one ex-partner must pay to the other after a divorce. The legal basis for spousal support is compensation for the loss of earning capacity that arose during the marriage due to the choices made by the partners. The right to spousal support arises, for example, if one of the partners did not perform paid work during the marriage or if there are remaining care obligations that are not evenly distributed after the marriage. The amount of spousal support is determined based on a capacity comparison, considering the income of both ex-partners after the divorce.
Child Support under Dutch law
Child support is a financial contribution that a parent must pay for the costs of care and upbringing of their minor children. This obligation applies regardless of whether the parent lives with the children in a family setting. The amount of child support is determined based on the income of the obligated parent and the number of children living in the family setting. The calculation of child support takes into account the child's needs and the parents' financial capacity. Child support is usually paid to the parent with whom the child primarily resides, covering the costs of care and upbringing.
Divorce covenants under Dutch law
Agreements regarding spousal support and child support can be recorded in a covenant. These agreements can be legally binding, depending on the content and nature of the arrangements made. A covenant can qualify as a binding agreement under Article 6:213 of the Dutch Civil Code if the parties commit to certain actions or omissions. Additionally, a covenant can have the characteristics of a settlement agreement as defined in Article 7:900 of the Dutch Civil Code, binding the parties to a determination of their legal relationship.
Division of joint assets under Dutch law
In the Netherlands, the court plays a crucial role in the division of joint assets after a divorce. Under Dutch divorce law, the court determines which assets are considered marital assets and thus subject to division, based on principles of reasonableness and fairness. The division is generally based on an equal split unless specific circumstances justify a different division. The Dutch court can also decide on the reference date for the division of assets, often the date of filing the divorce petition.
Division of debts under Dutch law
The Dutch court also plays a significant role in the division of debts after a divorce.
According to Article 1:100(2) of the Dutch Civil Code, both parties are jointly liable for the community debts, meaning each party is responsible for half of the debts unless otherwise agreed or required by reasonableness and fairness. If the parties cannot agree on the division, the court can determine the division method under Article 3:185 of the Dutch Civil Code.
Continued parenting under Dutch law
Parents who are divorcing under Dutch law must draft a parenting plan that includes agreements on care and upbringing tasks, information exchange, and child support.
The plan must be submitted to the court and periodically evaluated and amended. These obligations are intended to promote continued parenting and minimize conflicts. For specific cases and further legal guidance, it is recommended to seek professional legal advice from a Dutch divorce lawyer.
The Promotion of Continued Parenting and Careful Divorce Act, which came into effect on March 1, 2009, requires parents to draw up a parenting plan when divorcing. This Dutch law aims to promote continued parenting after the divorce and ensure that parents consider the arrangements for parenting post-divorce early on.
- Drafting a Parenting Plan - Parents who are divorcing are required to draft a parenting plan. This applies to both married parents and unmarried parents who exercise joint custody and are ending their cohabitation.
- Content of the Parenting Plan - The parenting plan must include at least the following agreements: (i) the division of care and upbringing tasks, (ii) the manner in which parents will inform and consult each other on important matters concerning the children, (iii) the costs of care and upbringing of the minor children (child support).
- Involvement of the Child - The child must be involved in the drafting of the parenting plan. This means that parents must take into account the wishes and feelings of the child when making agreements.
- Submission to the Court - The parenting plan must be submitted with the divorce petition. The absence of a parenting plan can lead to the inadmissibility of the divorce petition unless it was reasonably impossible to draft a parenting plan.
- Evaluation and Amendment - The parenting plan is a dynamic document that must be periodically evaluated and adjusted to changing circumstances. Parents must make clear agreements on how and when the plan will be evaluated and amended.
Challenges in compiling the list of the best divorce attorneys in the Netherlands
By definition, it is impossible to provide a comprehensive, objective and measured assessment of all divorce lawyers in the Netherlands in all respects. Nevertheless, the review committee, which was first assembled by the Dutch Law Institute in 2024, has endeavored to make a careful and useful selection based on a variety of sources. The sources consulted for this purpose were the following:
- Case law: The committee looked at case law and past decisions involving divorce lawyers.
- Legal articles and publications: Attorneys' academic and other legal work was analyzed to assess their expertise within the area of Dutch divorce law.
- Client testimonials and statements from other lawyers: The experiences of clients and other lawyers played a role in understanding the quality of service.
The members of the review committee tried to strike a balance between legal expertise, practical experience and client satisfaction. However, any selection remains subjective to some extent and depends on the quality and availability of information.
Selecting Dutch divorce lawyers obviously involves significant challenges and intricate considerations. Lawyers had to be assessed on multiple aspects, including quality, reputation and specialization. However, not all divorce lawyers are equally assessable based on publicly available information, and there are numerous factors that may influence their performance.
Therefore, we want to emphasize that a listing does not guarantee a successful case, nor is it an absolute assessment of the divorce lawyer's skills. We encourage individuals and companies seeking an divorce lawyer in the Netherlands to always make their own conscious and informed choice and find the appropriate Dutch attorney to suit their particular situation.
Independence and value of this 2025 listing of divorce lawyers
The Dutch Law Institute and the members of the review committee have not been paid for the listing of Dutch divorce attorneys in this list, and do not have any business relationship with the listed divorce attorneys or their law firms.
The Institute and the review committee worked independently and are solely focused on providing objective and useful information to English-speaking individuals and businesses. This means that the selection is purely based on quality and reputation of the selected divorce lawyers, with no undue commercial influences of any kind.
In our experience, this independence ensures that a listing in this directory of Netherlands divorce lawyers has more value than in many other English-language directories in which lawyers can be listed for a fee. After all, unlike such commercial directories, which often charge high fees to be visible, the divorce attorneys in this list are selected on the basis of substantive merit and not because of a financial contribution. This makes the recommendation by the Dutch Law Institute valuable to all who seeking reliable and adequate legal support in the Netherlands.
Other directories of divorce lawyers and law firms in the Netherlands
Legal 500 and Chambers are two prominent directories for law firms worldwide. They offer reviews and rankings of legal services. Yet there is some criticism of the usefulness of these listings.
- One of the most common criticisms is the question of the objectivity of the reviews. Legal 500 and Chambers rely on information provided in part by the firms themselves. This means that firms with better resources and a larger marketing budget are more likely to receive positive mentions. This gives the impression that it is sometimes more about who can invest the most time and resources, rather than the actual quality of service.
- Many lawyers and legal professionals view listings in Legal 500 and Chambers as a popularity contest. The larger the network and the better the relationships with so-called researchers, the greater the chance of a listing. This can result in good but lesser-known law firms not getting the recognition they deserve. The system may be biased in favor of larger firms with extensive networks and connections.
- In addition, the high costs associated with participating in this type of directory are often pointed out. Law firms often have to invest a significant amount of time and resources in the application processes. For smaller firms, this is sometimes not feasible, thus excluding them from participation. This makes the directories in a sense exclusive, targeting firms that can afford the investment, rather than providing a representative overview of the legal market.
- A final point of criticism is that the directories often seem to favor large firms. Niche firms or specialized lawyers are less likely to get the attention they deserve. As a result, clients may mistakenly believe that only large, full-service firms offer high quality, when in reality there are many specialized lawyers who actually excel in specific areas.
So, while Legal 500 and Chambers can certainly provide valuable information, there is clearly also criticism of the way the information is gathered and presented. Objectivity, accessibility and measurement of actual quality remain controversial. For prospective clients, it is important to consider these criticisms when interpreting the rankings. It remains wise to look beyond the listings in these directories and also use other sources and your own research when choosing a lawyer or law firm.
The listing by the Dutch Law Institute does not imply a guarantee or endorsement
The Dutch Law Institute is not responsible for the quality of services provided by the attorneys listed. The listing does not imply that Dutch Law Institute has a formal relationship with the attorneys or their firms. Also, the order of the names does not indicate any preference or ranking; it is arbitrary.
Your experience with a listed Dutch divorce lawyer is important to us
In order to improve the quality of our list, we greatly appreciate your feedback. If you have engaged one of the lawyers or firms on the list, we would like to hear your experiences. This feedback will help us to adjust the list, if necessary, and support litigants even better in the future.
For Dutch divorce lawyers who want to be on this list
Are you an English-speaking, qualified and experienced divorce lawyer in the Netherlands and do you think you should also be on the list of divorce lawyers?
We are open to suggestions and want to continue to improve our list.
Please contact us at mail@dutch-law.com if you feel your expertise would be a valuable addition. All applications are subjected to the same evaluation criteria, with quality, experience, reputation and client satisfaction being key.
Other lists of top Dutch lawyers
- The best business lawyers in the Netherlands
- The best contract lawyers in the Netherlands
- The best Dutch corporate lawyers
- The best divorce lawyers in the Netherlands
- The best dismissal lawyers in the Netherlands
- The best Dutch employment litigation lawyers
- The best family lawyers in the Netherlands
