Divorce or end of registered partnership

What is it?

Do you no longer want to be with your partner? If so, you can:

In most cases, you’ll handle this through a lawyer or mediator.

Ending a Registered Partnership
- Do you have minor children? Or do you disagree with each other?
  In that case, the matter will be handled by the court. Please contact a lawyer for assistance.
- Do you agree, and are there no minor children involved?
  In that case, the divorce can be finalized through a notary. Please contact a mediator or notary for this.

Ending a Marriage
A lawyer is always required for this. The lawyer will file a petition on your behalf with the court.

Contact a lawyer, mediator, or notary to advise and guide you through this process.

Divorce
Your marriage is ending. Afterward, you will no longer be married to each other under the law.
Legal Separation
You no longer live together, but remain married under the law. The rights and obligations of marriage continue to apply. This may be a choice you make, for example, because of your religion or for financial reasons.
Dissolution of Marriage Following a Legal Separation
Have you been legally separated for at least 3 years? If so, you can permanently dissolve the marriage.

Through the court
— if you do not agree (only one of you wants to end the partnership)
— if you have minor children together.
Through the notary
If you and your partner agree and you do not have any minor children, your partnership does not need to be dissolved through the courts.

Choose a lawyer. If you are filing for divorce together with your partner, 1 attorney is enough. If you do not file for divorce together or if you and your partner disagree, you both choose your own lawyer.
Your lawyer files for divorce with the court with a petition. Your lawyer will draft this petition with you.
You can ask for a side provision in the petition. This is an agreement related to the divorce. For example, about access to the children.
If only you file for divorce, your partner will receive a copy of your petition.
Your partner can object to the divorce. This is called "objecting.
If the judge has made a ruling, you will be sent that decision through your attorney. This is called an order. Your lawyer will register the decree with the municipality where you were married within 6 months. Only then you are legally separated. This also applies to a dissolution of marriage after a legal separation.
A legal separation is final when the order is entered in the matrimonial registry within 6 months. To do so, contact the Municipal Clerk’s Office of the court.

Choose a mediator, lawyer, or notary.
You and your partner will draw up an agreement with a lawyer, mediator, or notary. The agreement states that you wish to end your registered partnership. You will also make arrangements regarding, for example, spousal support and pension benefits.
Have your lawyer, mediator, or notary register the agreement within 3 months with the municipality where your partnership is registered. Only then will you be legally separated.

This is done in the same way as a divorce.

You do not file for a divorce or the dissolution of a registered partnership with the municipality; instead, you must do so through a lawyer, mediator, or notary.
Only after the court ruling or agreement has been recorded in the civil registry are you officially separated under the law. Usually, your lawyer or mediator will handle this for you.