Looking for a family lawyer for a divorce, maintenance or arrangements about your children in Almere? Arslan Advocaten helps you assess your position and make workable arrangements. If proceedings are needed, we discuss what you can ask the court for and which documents are required. We assist clients from Almere from our offices in Amsterdam and Utrecht.

A family conflict rarely consists of a single, separate question. Where the children live, who uses the home and which payments continue all affect each other. That is why we first look at which decision is needed now and which matters need to be settled together.

Discuss your family law question. Tell us straight away about any petition you have received, a hearing date or another time limit that is running.

What do you want clarity about?

Divorcing in Almere: first an overview, then arrangements

In a divorce, several matters often need to be dealt with: the children, the home, income, debts, assets and any pension rights. Which rules apply to the division depends, among other things, on your marriage and any prenuptial agreement made. So do not simply use an online template that is based on a different family situation.

A joint petition may be appropriate if you reach agreement on the consequences. If that does not work, a lawyer of your own can represent your interests and, where necessary, prepare a unilateral petition. A lawyer is required to file a divorce petition. The information from the Dutch judiciary (Rechtspraak) on divorce explains the different routes.

Marriage, registered partnership or cohabitation

Separating as cohabitants is legally different from ending a marriage. The cohabitation agreement, ownership of the home and separate arrangements may then be central. With a registered partnership, it must likewise be examined which route to termination applies in your situation. So at the intake, first tell us how your relationship is legally structured and whether there are minor children.

The home and ongoing costs

Whoever stays in the home temporarily is not automatically the eventual owner or tenant. Nor does an arrangement between the two of you automatically end obligations towards a bank or landlord. So list the use of the home, ownership, financing and monthly costs separately.

Keep mortgage or rental details and make clear who is currently paying which costs. Read more about fixed costs during a divorce. Temporary arrangements must be workable in practice while final solutions, such as a sale or takeover, are being explored.

Parenting plan, care arrangement and contact with your child

A care arrangement must match the child’s needs and the practical situation of both parents. School, childcare, work rosters, travel distances and holidays need to be worked out specifically. Simply writing down that parents will make arrangements “in good consultation” may offer too little to hold on to when that very consultation is difficult.

Map out what is happening now: where does the child spend the night, who drops off and picks up, how are medical or school appointments shared and where do misunderstandings arise? Describe behaviour and arrangements factually. An overview of a few specific events is more useful for the assessment than a long series of characterisations of the other parent.

Parental authority and contact are different matters

Parental authority concerns the legal responsibility for and decisions about a minor child. A care or contact arrangement concerns contact and care. The provision of information may also require separate attention. Which requests are possible depends, among other things, on who has parental authority and which arrangements or decisions already exist.

In the case of a serious and lasting deadlock, an assessment of the parental authority situation may be necessary. A request for sole parental authority is not automatically the solution to every disagreement. The interests of the child and the specific circumstances are central.

An existing arrangement is not being complied with

First check exactly what the wording of the arrangement provides. Note down when contact did not take place, which reason was given and which solution was proposed. Sometimes clarification is needed; sometimes an amended arrangement is more appropriate than enforcing arrangements that structurally do not work.

See our explanation of a contact arrangement that is not being complied with. If there are concerns about safety or an acute escalation, it must be assessed immediately which help or measure is needed. Distinguish between a legal disagreement and a situation in which immediate protection is necessary.

Moving house and parenting: discuss the consequences before the move

If one parent lives in Almere and the other parent further away, travel time and drop-off and pick-up arrangements can have a major influence on how things work in practice. A move can change existing arrangements, even if the distance seems limited on paper. Think of school days, sport, work rosters and who can do the extra travelling.

Do not assume automatic permission or an automatic prohibition. Have the parental authority situation, existing decisions and the specific moving plan assessed before irreversible steps are taken. Describe why you want to move, what alternatives there are and how contact with the other parent can be maintained. This allows consultation or any request to be better substantiated.

Child maintenance and spousal maintenance

With maintenance, need and financial capacity are important starting points. A calculation requires more than a single net salary figure. Think of forms of income, the family situation, the division of care and relevant changes. Child maintenance and spousal maintenance each have their own legal framework; an arrangement on one matter does not automatically answer the question about the other.

See the in-depth explanation of child maintenance and spousal maintenance. For a reassessment, send the original calculation and court decision. It can then be established which starting points were used at the time and what has changed since.

Income has changed or a child comes of age

Losing your job, a different income or changes in care may be a reason to have arrangements assessed. Do not simply adjust payments yourself. It must first be clear whether a change is legally possible, from what date and by which route. When a child turns eighteen, it must also be examined what this means for the payment arrangements; read more about maintenance for children aged 18 to 21.

Maintenance is not being paid

Make a month-by-month overview of the amounts due and received. Distinguish a dispute about the amount from late payment. Whether collection is possible and which route is appropriate depends partly on the existing enforceable title and the circumstances. See also what you can do if maintenance is not paid.

When is a provisional measure needed?

A final arrangement can take time, while clarity about the home, finances or children is needed straight away. We then assess whether temporary arrangements are possible or whether a request to the court is needed. An urgent question requires a concrete picture: what happens if nothing is arranged, which date is relevant and which solution are you asking for?

In a divorce, provisional measures may play a role. Include any summons or petition straight away with your request. An introductory meeting does not suspend a court time limit.

How do we prepare your case?

1. Your question and its urgency: what needs to be arranged and which time limits are running?
2. Legal starting points: your type of relationship, parental authority, existing arrangements and earlier proceedings.
3. Documents: relevant court decisions, financial details and a factual overview of events.
4. Route: advice, negotiation or a request to the court, with an explanation of feasibility and costs.
5. Implementation: wording arrangements so that it is clear who does what and when.

Our family law practice deals with various matters that may overlap. You can also view the profile of Gülcan Alkilic. At the intake, we discuss which lawyer is available and suitable for your question.

Costs and contact from Almere

For clients from Almere, contact takes place via Amsterdam or Utrecht. Indicate which office is practical for you. The location of the office does not automatically determine which court has jurisdiction; we assess that on the basis of your case.

We discuss the work and costs in advance. In addition to lawyer’s fees, court fees and other costs of proceedings may be involved. Depending on your income, assets and case, subsidised legal aid may be possible. This may involve a personal contribution and other costs. Have the options assessed at the intake.

Frequently asked questions about family law in Almere

Does my ex-partner have to agree before I ask for advice?

No. You can have your own position assessed. Whether a next step can be taken jointly or unilaterally depends on the matter. State whether the other party already has legal assistance, so that correspondence and any conflicts of interest can be assessed in good time.

Can we instruct one lawyer together?

That may be appropriate in certain situations, for example when joint arrangements are possible. Where interests conflict, it must be examined which form of assistance is responsible. State in your request whether you want advice together or for yourself.

Is a child always placed with each parent for exactly half of the time?

An equal division is not an automatic outcome for every situation. The interests of the child, the existing care and practical possibilities are relevant. Discuss specifically how a proposed arrangement works on school days and during holidays.

Can I have an earlier parenting plan amended?

That is sometimes possible, but the reason and existing arrangements must be examined. Bring the plan and any court decisions. First establish which parts no longer work and which change offers a solution for them.

What if there is a foreign divorce or a parent abroad?

Then jurisdiction, applicable law and recognition may raise separate questions. State the countries, places of residence and earlier decisions. Also read about recognition of a foreign divorce.

Which documents are enough to get started?

A short description of your situation, existing arrangements and letters received are a good start. For financial matters, an additional list of documents often follows. If a time limit is running, do not wait until everything is complete.

Request a meeting about your situation — for Almere via our offices in Amsterdam and Utrecht.