Family and estate law
Divorce, children, estates and protection of vulnerable relatives, by IAFL and ADAN members.
Our family and estates team supports individuals through separation and divorce, arrangements for children, division of matrimonial property, estates and protection of vulnerable relatives.
Pascal Koerfer, founding partner, is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). We favour negotiated solutions and litigate before the family judge when needed. We regularly handle cross-border family matters.
What we handle
Divorce and separation
Divorce by mutual consent or through the court, compensatory allowance and division of assets.
Children and parental responsibility
Residence, contact, child maintenance and relocation.
Estates and inheritance
Estate administration, disputes between heirs, contested wills and gifts.
Protection of vulnerable adults
Court protection measures, family authorisation and lasting powers.
Frequently asked questions
Can we divorce in France if we live abroad?
It depends on habitual residence and nationality. EU rules often allow several courts; the choice can change the financial outcome, so take advice before filing.
How long does a divorce take in France?
A divorce by mutual consent can be completed within a few weeks when the spouses agree. A court divorce generally takes from several months to more than a year, depending on the level of disagreement and the court.
Does each spouse need their own lawyer?
In a divorce by mutual consent, yes: each spouse must be assisted by their own lawyer. In court proceedings, each spouse is represented by a lawyer.
Marriage, PACS or cohabitation: what are the differences on separation?
Married couples must divorce, with lawyers involved. Partners in a PACS (civil partnership) can end it by a joint declaration or by the decision of one partner served on the other by a judicial officer; there is no compensatory payment between partners. Unmarried cohabitants separate without any formality. In every case, rights and duties towards the children are the same, and the family judge can be asked to decide where the children live and the amount of child support.
