在中国如何离婚？外籍人士离婚的法律程序

Foreign-relatedmarriage refers to the marriage between a citizen of a country and aforeigner (including stateless person), including foreign-relatedmarriage and foreign-related divorce. In China, “foreign-relatedmarriage” also refers to marriages between Chinese citizens andforeigners, mainland residents and Hong Kong residents, Macaoresidents, Taiwan residents and overseas Chinese. According toChinese law, the law of the place where the marriage is concludedbetween Chinese citizens and foreigners shall apply, and the law ofthe place where the court with jurisdiction on the case shall applyto the divorce. Where the parties to a foreign-related marriage getmarried or get divorced within the territory of China, they mustcomply with the provisions of Chinese laws.

涉外婚姻是指一国公民与外国人(包括无国籍人)之间的婚姻，包括涉外婚姻和涉外离婚。在中国，涉外婚姻也指中国公民与外国人、大陆居民与香港居民、澳门居民、台湾居民与海外华人之间的婚姻。根据中国法律，中国公民与外国人结婚所在地的法律适用，离婚适用有管辖权的法院所在地的法律。涉外婚姻的当事人在中国境内结婚或者离婚的，必须遵守中国法律的规定。

I. Ways to solveforeign-related divorce

一、解决涉外离婚的途径

According to therelevant provisions of China’s “Marriage Law”,there are two ways to divorce, when both parties reached consensus todivorce with no arguments on mutual property division, childrencustody and other related issues, the two parties may register thedivorce at the marriage registration authority. Otherwise, the twoparties has to get divorce by litigation procedures in the court.

根据中国《婚姻法》的有关规定，离婚有两种方式，当事人双方协商一致同意离婚，对共同财产分割、子女监护等相关问题无异议时，可以向婚姻登记机关办理离婚登记。否则，双方必须通过法院的诉讼程序离婚。

In foreign-relateddivorce, whether the two parties are willing to divorce voluntary ornot, it is better for the expat to get divorce through litigationprocedures in the court. This is because, in some countries, onlydivorce with court judgement is recognized. In China, some courts maygrant a divorce on the spot by summary procedure if both partiesagree.

在涉外离婚案件中，无论当事人双方是否自愿离婚，最好通过法院诉讼程序离婚。这是因为，在一些国家，只有经过法院判决的离婚才被承认。在中国，如果双方同意，一些法院可以通过简易程序当场批准离婚。

II. Property andcustody disputes in foreign-related divorce

二、涉外离婚中的财产和监护权纠纷

1. Methods forsettling property disputes

1. 解决财产纠纷的方法

The civil law ofmost countries in the world stipulates that the ownership ofimmovable property/real estate shall be governed by the laws of thelocality of the immovable property.

世界上大多数国家的民法规定，不动产/房地产的所有权由不动产所在地的法律管辖。

The followingsituations should be noted:

应注意以下情况:

a. Based on thisprovision, property disputes involved in divorce may not be resolvedat the same time. That is to say, if both parties deal with divorce,there are some immovable property is in other countries or regions,then in the divorce court, can only deal with the immovable propertyand movable property located in the divorce court, for the immovableproperty not located in the country of the divorce court, the twoparties can only solve the immovable property dispute in the locationof the immovable property.

A.根据这项规定，离婚所涉及的财产纠纷可能不会同时得到解决。也就是说，如果双方处理离婚，有些不动产在其他国家或地区，那么在离婚法院，只能处理位于离婚法院的不动产和动产，对于不动产不在离婚法院所在国的不动产，双方只能在不动产所在地解决不动产纠纷。

b. Both parties havegone through divorce procedures in other countries, but the immovableproperty involved has not been divided and handled in China. If bothparties cannot reach an agreement on the immovable property locatedin China and need to settle the dispute through court proceedings,both parties shall first apply to the intermediate people’sCourt in the place where the applicant is located for recognition ofthe validity of the divorce between the two parties abroad, and thenrequest the court in the place where the immovable property islocated to settle the dispute through court proceedings.

双方都在其他国家办理了离婚手续，但所涉及的不动产并未在中国分割和处理。当事人双方不能就中国境内的不动产达成协议，需要通过法院程序解决纠纷的，应当先向申请人所在地中级人民法院申请承认双方境外离婚的有效性，然后请求不动产所在地法院通过法院程序解决纠纷。

2. methods forresolving disputes over child support

2. 解决子女抚养费纠纷的办法

Chinese lawstipulates that the law of the country that has the closestconnection with the person to be supported shall apply. The supportbetween parents and children, husband and wife and between otherpersons who have the relationship of support, the law of the countrywhich has the closest contact with the person to be supported shallapply. The nationality, residence as well as the location of theproperty of supported, may be regarded as having the closestrelationship with the person to be supported.

中国法律规定，适用与被扶养人关系最密切的国家的法律。父母和子女、丈夫和妻子之间以及其他有赡养关系的人之间的赡养，应适用与被赡养人有最密切联系的国家的法律。被抚养人的国籍、居住地以及财产所在地，可以被视为与被抚养人关系最密切。

III. Other issuesthat need attention

三、其他需要注意的问题

1. If there is anagent ad litem in a divorce case, he/she shall still appear in courtexcept for those who cannot express his/her will. If he/she is trulyunable to appear in court due to special circumstances, he/she mustsubmit written opinions to the court.

1.离婚案件有诉讼代理人的，仍应出庭，但不能表达遗嘱的除外。如果他/她因特殊情况确实不能出庭，他/她必须向法院提交书面意见。

2. Expats, statelesspersons, foreign enterprises and organizations who wish to appointlawyers to represent them in litigation or responding to an action inthe court must appoint licensed lawyers of People’s Republic ofChina.

2.外籍人士、无国籍人士、外国企业和组织如果希望聘请律师代表他们进行诉讼或者对法院的诉讼作出回应，必须聘请中华人民共和国的执业律师。

If one party asksfor divorce, the other party does not agree to, or the two partiescannot reach an agreement on the division of property after divorceand the raising of children, they should file a lawsuit to the court.According to China’s Civil Procedure Law, if big amount isinvolved, the case will fall into the jurisdiction of theintermediate people’s Court. If mediation by the court fails,divorce shall be granted. Since this case is a foreign-related civilcase, the special provisions of the Civil Procedure Law onforeign-related civil procedures should be applied during the trial.

一方提出离婚，另一方不同意，或者离婚后双方不能就财产分割和抚养子女达成协议的，应当向法院提起诉讼。根据中国民事诉讼法，如果涉及金额较大，案件将由中级人民法院管辖。如果法院调解失败，则准予离婚。由于本案是涉外民事案件，审判中应适用《民事诉讼法》关于涉外民事诉讼的特别规定。

In addition, if aparty does not reside in China, written opinions shall be submittedto the court. Written opinions as well as legal evidence sent from aforeign country shall be certified by a notary office of his/her homecountry and authenticated by the Chinese embassy or consulate in thatcountry.

此外，如果一方当事人不在中国居住，应向法院提交书面意见。从外国寄来的书面意见和法律证据，应当经本国公证机构认证，并经中国驻该国使领馆认证。