I want to divorce my husband. We’re both foreign nationals living in Japan. I did a little research, but it seems quite complicated. Since my husband refuses to get a divorce, I might have to apply for divorce by mediation / judgment. Does anyone have any experience with divorce in Japan? I’m not sure what steps to take first. Is it necessary to hire a lawyer?
Thanks in advance.
Edit: Just came back from the ward office. They gave me forms to fill for “divorce by mutual agreement”. Still need to contact our respective embassies to get some documents though. Other than that, they said it should be enough as long as my husband agrees to the divorce… Which he won’t.
8 comments
If you and your husband agree to an amicable divorce you can just do it at city hall, it takes very little effort. But not every foreign country recognizes a divorce without a judge signing off on it.
If he refuses you are gonna need a lawyer and go to court.
Hmmm, that’s the issue. He’s adamant about not getting a divorce. Do you know how much it will cost if you get a lawyer involved? I’m on a very tight budget.
Thanks for your quick response, btw 😊
Without specifying your nationalities it will be difficult for you to get good advice. For example, not all countries recognize the quick Japanese administrative divorce and instead require a judicial divorce decree. So depending on where you are from, the quick & easy city office divorce may not be an option for you.
If your husband does not want a divorce then this could drag out for a long time, unless you can prove fault (him cheating on you, for example.)
How come the husband has to agree? Seems like a really toxic & unfair law.
You could start by moving out and letting him stew in is own unemployed, alcoholic juice.
Is this the personality changing Strong Zero guy?
as a wife you can get all necesarry paperwork needed for the divorce from city hall or what not. fill up the divorce paper. stamp your hanko. stamp his hanko when hes not looking. go and submit it in the city hall. No one questions it. Both of you dont need to be present when submitting the divorce paper.
boom, your divorced.
In any country, divorce should not be possible on the insistence of one party alone.
Many countries have divorce courts.