Costa Rica Divorce

Filing for divorce is a fairly quick and easy process in Costa Rica, and most of the time couples start divorce proceedings based on a mutually agreed settlement. Costa Rican divorce law is completely accepted even when one of the partners is not a citizen, whether the person is a Costa Rican resident or not. As long as one of the parties has a residence here, even if they are tourists, they can file for divorce.
Domestic violence laws in the country are quite strict, and the court usually favors the women in violence cases.
At Meléndez & Bonilla, we have a team made up of lawyers who understand how to deal with such divorce cases and how to be assertive so that there is less time wasted during the litigation.
We have a deep knowledge of divorce law in Costa Rica and so can add value to the services that we provide for our clients. Our expertise in trials coupled with our straightforward approach means we are a welcome asset to the families we work with as we deal with property division, alimony, child support, visitation, custody, and parenting plans.
Meléndez & Bonilla is known to be among the best Costa Rican Divorce Law Firms. We offer the best of both worlds: the expertise of a large company combined with the individual care of a small, personal firm. Our services are not just for clients living in Costa Rica, we extend our services to international clients who seek legal representation in Costa Rica while they're away from the country.
The Meléndez & Bonilla Law Firm completely understands the need for divorce cases to remain private, and our clients' privacy and requirements are pivotal in all the legal strategies we use in all cases. Despite Costa Rica being a family oriented country, unfortunately divorce is fairly common. We understand all the ins and outs of the divorce law here and can help facilitate your divorce request. We specialize in divorce law and related cases.

Getting a Divorce in Costa Rica

Most divorces in Costa Rica are mutual agreement divorces. Both the husband and the wife agree and sign the legal agreement for the divorce court. This includes how to distribute all the assets, if there is alimony or not, and if there are children, it includes child custody, visitation rights, and child support. Ending a relationship is never easy, and going through a divorce can be one of the most stressful times in your life, especially if there are property and children involved.
That's where Meléndez & Bonilla can help. We understand all the ins and outs of Costa Rican divorce law, so we can help make a difficult time in your life a little easier and less stressful. Our decades of experience have taught us not only how to deal with each different divorce case in terms of the law and the legal side, but also with trust, compassion, and empathy.
When it comes to the broad Costa Rican divorce law, there are lots of different issues covered. These include issues relating to domestic partnerships, civil unions, separation, divorce, child support, child custody, visitation rights, alimony, property settlements, spousal abuse, father's rights, and much more.
Clients involved in cases to do with divorce law often have to make decisions on responsibilities, rights, and choices. This is difficult due to the emotions involved in such actions and processes. Divorce cases are often supported by a process of mediation. All the lawyers at Meléndez & Bonilla are trained to help their clients through every step of the process and will work tirelessly to understand each client's individual situation, desires, and needs. Thanks to the skills possessed by our lawyers, they will convey your case in court with conviction and clarity so that you can experience a quick and inexpensive result.

Important facts surrounding divorce in Costa Rica

• A divorce can be filed at any time after the marriage. There is no waiting period.
• One cause for divorce is the incompatibility of characters to be able to live together. This is after six months have elapsed since the marriage.
• Cruel treatment, either physical or psychological, is a cause for divorce.
• To use separation as a cause for divorce, the couple must have been separated for one year if filed before the court or for three years otherwise.
• If child support or alimony is awarded in the divorce, all support payments must be up-to-date, and 13 months of support must be paid in advance to the court in order to leave the country.
• The court will award child support independent of any agreements, and it is strongly enforced.
• The properties and assets obtained before the marriage remain the property of that person.
• Property that was obtained during the marriage is divided equally, apart from individual inheritances.
• Women are allowed to demand DNA tests to establish who fathered a child. A man who refuses is deemed to be the biological father and must pay the appropriate child support.