Expat desk

The lawyers of De Boorder Family and Inheritance Law Attorneys & Mediators are specialized in cross-border situations. Do you, your partner and/or your child have a nationality other than Dutch? Do you live abroad? Do you have assets abroad? It is possible that another judge or another legal system than the Dutch applies to your situation.

Each country has its own rules to determine whether the court has jurisdiction to hear a dispute between two parties. This is no different in the Netherlands, although this is often governed by European regulations. It is important to know whether the Dutch court has jurisdiction or not, in order to prevent proceedings being started for nothing.

If the Dutch court has jurisdiction, this does not mean that a foreign court no longer has jurisdiction. It is therefore advisable to obtain information about the possibilities of starting proceedings in the Netherlands, if the preference is to resolve the dispute in the Netherlands.

The same applies to the applicable law. In another country, which applies different rules, it may well be that the outcome of a specific question is completely different than in the Netherlands. It may be worthwhile to seek advice on this in different countries.

It is not always necessary to physically go to court for a solution. A settlement via mediation or collaborative divorce is also possible in international cases, even if you do not live in the Netherlands. Discussions can take place via a video connection, for example.

For further questions or information, please contact contact us.