Divorce: what do you need to arrange?
In a divorce, the proceedings and arrangements concerning children, finances and housing must align. Start with a complete overview before making final commitments.
What would you like help with?
Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
General information about Dutch law · Reviewed on · How we work
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Apply jointly or individually
When a marriage has irretrievably broken down, one spouse or both jointly can seek divorce through a lawyer. The other spouse’s consent is not always required. Record marriage details, countries of residence and existing agreements; international cases first require jurisdiction and applicable-law checks. Registered partnerships and cohabitation follow different routes.
Mediation makes agreements, not a divorce order
Mediation requires everyone involved to agree to participate. The mediator helps negotiations but does not replace the lawyer and court for a divorce application. List agreed matters, disputes and documents beforehand. If only part is resolved, have a lawyer assess the remaining issues; no fixed duration or cost saving is guaranteed.
Prepare divorce involving children
Divorcing parents with minor children need a parenting plan. Prepare care, contact, information sharing, consultation and child costs, involving children appropriately. Use our existing parenting-plan help; maintenance calculation and modification have their own explanation. If a joint plan proves impossible, record your attempts and discuss with the lawyer what to put before the court.
Response, urgency and formal completion
If you receive a petition, ask a lawyer to check the response deadline immediately: in ordinary Dutch divorce proceedings it is generally six weeks after receipt; if living abroad or with unknown residence, three months. Any extension must be requested. Urgent housing or financial issues call for assessment of interim measures. Divorce takes effect only upon civil-register registration. The registration request must be made no later than six months after the order becomes final. Obtain written confirmation of responsibility, date and registration.
Home, assets and pension
Map out ownership, mortgage, rent, bank accounts, businesses, debts, tax and pension. Check prenuptial agreements or registered partnership conditions before dividing assets or waiving rights.
Your checklist
Prepare your next stepFill in and save · Word
Tick what you have checked or collected. Note what is missing and take your overview to a meeting.
Unless saved in My overview: Your entries stay only on this screen. Download before leaving; closing or reloading clears them. Do not enter identity numbers, passwords or unnecessary personal details.
What do you still need for your next step?
Item 1 / 6 · Where do you stand with this item?
Marriage certificate and any prenuptial agreements
This overview follows your own answers. It does not assess your rights or guarantee that your file is complete.
Your choices stay here. Use the buttons below if you want to save or download.
View all details, notes and timeline
Your timeline and evidence
List events and contacts. Note where you keep the evidence; no upload is needed.
What goes in my timeline?
Record what happened, when, the response and where to find the letter, message or photo. Mark uncertain dates.
Is my evidence sent?
No. You only note where it is kept. No files are uploaded or sent automatically.
How do I save my timeline?
Your entries are not saved automatically. Choose Save and continue later to store this preparation, including your timeline, in My overview. Wait for confirmation and save new changes again. You can also download a Word file without an account.
Up to 20 events. Choose a different position for an event to change the order.
0 / 6 · Checked or collected
For each event, note the date, what happened and where the evidence is kept. Example: 3 October — letter received — correspondence folder.
Describe the solution you would like, such as an explanation of a deduction and repayment of the outstanding amount.
For example: which document is missing, who can provide it and what should I do first?
Record the date and its source. If unknown, note this and check promptly. This tool does not calculate or monitor deadlines.
After your conversation
These are your own notes. Confirm agreements with the other person; these notes do not prove their agreement.
This is your preparation, not a submitted request, objection or legally reviewed document. A tick records only your own progress. Check the procedure and deadline in the original letter.
Save and continue later
Clear entries
Download anything you want to keep first. Clearing cannot be undone.
- Marriage certificate and any prenuptial agreements
- Income, assets, debts and tax information
- Home, mortgage or tenancy agreement
- Pension statements and insurance
- Parenting plan and maintenance calculations
- Temporary arrangements without unintended full and final waiver
Frequently asked questions
Can we use one lawyer together?
For a joint application, one lawyer can act if you agree and your interests remain compatible. If a substantial conflict arises, each person may need their own lawyer.
When am I officially divorced?
After the court order, the divorce must be registered in the civil status registers within the statutory period.