International Divorce with Favorable Custody and Property Resolution

A foreign spouse navigating a complex international divorce achieved a favorable custody arrangement and equitable property division despite significant jurisdictional challenges.

Background / Issue

The client, a foreign national married to a Korean citizen for over a decade, faced divorce proceedings initiated by the spouse. The couple had minor children, mixed-nationality assets in two countries, and competing claims regarding the appropriate jurisdiction. The client was concerned about potential bias in the Korean family court system and the risk of losing regular contact with the children.

Our Legal Approach

We developed a dual-track strategy addressing both Korean and overseas legal considerations. In Korea, we prepared a detailed parenting plan emphasizing the children's existing school and social attachments, submitted evidence of the client's stable caregiving role, and engaged child development experts. For property division, we traced the origins of major assets and presented a fair allocation proposal. We also coordinated with counsel in the client's home country to ensure that any foreign orders would be consistent with the Korean proceedings.

Result / Outcome

The court granted our client regular custody with scheduled visitation for the other parent. The property was divided in a manner that recognized our client's contributions to the marital estate, including non-financial contributions. Spousal support was set at a reasonable amount for a transitional period. The client maintained meaningful contact with the children and received a fair share of the accumulated assets.