5 Things To Consider When Divorcing A Foreign National
Divorces are usually complicated and emotional matters which can take significant amounts of time to deal with. Divorces involving foreign nationals can be even more complicated, especially if one of the partners doesn’t have Australian citizenship.
It’s always a good idea to discuss your options with a family lawyer when going through an international divorce. However, I’ve put together a short list of five things that you should absolutely consider before you divorce a foreign national – or indeed, if you’re a foreigner being divorced by an Australian citizen.
- Residency rights
If the spouse that you’re separating from doesn’t have Australian citizenship then you will need to consider their right to live and work in Australia. This is especially important if you have children together, because things can become very complicated when two parents are forced to live in different countries.
In this case, you might be best off speaking to an immigration lawyer to determine whether your former partner will retain their living rights following your divorce. In many cases they will – especially if children are involved – but it’s still important to ask the question.
- Your finances
This is relevant to any divorce, but particularly important when you’re separating from a foreigner. If your former partner is planning on returning to their home country then it’s important to make sure that your finances are in order before they leave, otherwise things can get very complicated.