Divorce

Divorce in Vietnam can proceed by agreement or by petition of one spouse. The difference matters: an agreed divorce is usually resolved in months, while a contested one can take considerably longer, particularly where property or children are in dispute.

Wise Counsel advises and represents clients through divorce proceedings, dealing with the marriage itself, the division of property and arrangements for the children as one connected matter rather than three separate ones.

What we help with

• Advising on grounds, procedure and the realistic timeline for your situation
• Preparing uncontested divorce petitions where both spouses agree
• Representing clients in contested divorce proceedings
• Advising on jurisdiction where one spouse lives abroad or is a foreign national
• Identifying common and separate property and preparing the division claim
• Custody, visitation and child maintenance arrangements
• Negotiating settlement agreements to avoid a contested hearing
• Advising on recognition of a Vietnamese divorce abroad and vice versa

An agreed divorce almost always costs less, resolves faster and damages the family less than a contested one. Where agreement is possible, we work towards it first.