What you need to know when getting divorced in the Netherlands

You cannot just go to court to get a divorce yourself. If you want a divorce in the Netherlands, you need a lawyer. If you are not a Dutch citizen, you can ask for a lawyer who specialises in divorce and has knowledge of immigration law.

A lawyer must file for divorce with the court. If one of the partners does not want to get divorced, the judge decides the case. So, in the Netherlands, divorce is always a legal situation. Your lawyer will discuss with you what you need to arrange in your situation and how to do it. Do you have children younger than 18? Then you have to make arrangements about their care, for example.

Do you have a bad argument with your partner that makes it difficult to settle a divorce? Then you can also call in a mediator. A mediator is independent and supports you and your partner in making good agreements about your divorce.

It costs money to get divorced. Namely, you have to pay the lawyer and perhaps the mediator. The amount depends on your income and savings. The court, with the help of your lawyer, examines whether you can afford the divorce or whether you are entitled to financial support during the divorce.

There are organisations that can help you with your divorce. You can find a lawyer or mediator yourself, or you can seek help from: 

• Your contact at

  VWN
  can give you more information about divorce. And provide advice on your situation.

• Het Juridisch Loket
  can also help. On their website you can find information about offices in your area. If you need an interpreter at an interview, you can also tell them.

If you want to divorce your partner in Ukraine instead of in the Netherlands, ask a Ukrainian lawyer about the divorce options in Ukraine.

After your divorce in Ukraine, you must officially notify the Netherlands that you are divorced. This works as follows:

1. Have your divorce document translated into Dutch, English, French or German. A

   sworn translator
   must translate the document.

2. Get your divorce documents legally approved at the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They place a stamp on the translation. This is called an 'apostille'. You can have this done in Ukraine or online. If you do it online, you get an 'elektronische stempel' (electronic stamp).

3. Send an email with your translated divorce document to apostille@mfa.gov.ua. You can also call the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs if you have any questions: +380 442 531 596.

4. Notify the municipality where you live in the Netherlands that you are divorced. You will need the translated divorce document to do this. The municipality will update this in the

   Dutch population register (BRP)
   .