Making the decision to divorce is rarely easy. For most couples, it follows months – or even years – of emotional reflection and effort. But once that decision is made, the legal process begins – and that’s often where the real work starts.

In the Netherlands, divorce involves more than just signing a few forms. It’s a legal, emotional, and practical journey that takes time, especially when children, shared property, or financial issues are involved.

What makes a divorce take longer?

The duration of a divorce in the Netherlands depends on how many issues need to be decided by a judge and how many can be resolved between the parties themselves. The following matters typically need to be addressed:

  • Division of assets – Who keeps the house? What happens to shared savings, loans, or investments?
  • Parental responsibility – If there are children involved, parents are required to submit a parenting plan (ouderschapsplan), detailing living arrangements, school choices, and financial contributions.
  • Pension rights and spousal maintenance – These are often legally and financially complex, requiring professional advice.

If both parties manage to agree on all terms, the court only needs to issue the divorce and attach the agreements to the court decision. However, if one or more topics remain unresolved, a court hearing will be scheduled. In those cases, it will take longer before the final judgment is issued.

At the end of the process – whether that takes a few months or more than a year – the court will issue its judgment.

What is my official date of divorce?

Unlike in many other countries, the date of the court judgment is not your official divorce date in the Netherlands. You are only legally divorced once the court decision has been registered with the Burgerlijke Stand (civil registry).

  • If you were married in the Netherlands, the judgment must be registered in the municipality where you got married.
  • If you were married abroad, registration takes place in the municipality of The Hague.

By default, this registration can only happen three months after the court decision, to allow time for an appeal. However, if both parties sign a waiver confirming they won’t appeal, the divorce can be registered immediately.

That said, ‘immediately’ still depends on how quickly the municipality processes the request – which can take a few weeks.

The official date of your divorce is the day the court judgment is registered with the relevant municipality.

What if I got married abroad?

If you were married outside the Netherlands, registering your divorce in the Dutch system is only part of the story. You must also inform the authorities in the country where the marriage was originally registered and follow their local procedures. Otherwise, you risk being legally divorced in one country but still married in another.

Need legal support?

Divorce is never simple – especially when living abroad. At Counselr.nl, expats in the Netherlands can find experienced, multilingual divorce lawyers and mediators. Whether you’re looking for clear legal advice or step-by-step guidance through the Dutch divorce process, Counselr helps you find professionals who speak your language and understand your situation.

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