36 Family International

The 36 Family practice group offers advice and representation which incorporates  a wide spectrum of international family law issues. Our services  are able to meet the needs of clients based in the UK whose affairs have international aspects, and the needs of clients based overseas who need the assistance of the courts of England and Wales or advice about family law, including enforcement, in England and Wales.

We have an office in Singapore to service the needs of our clients in the Far East, along with well-established links with law firms based on almost every continent. 

Several of our barristers have been elected as Fellows of the prestigious International Academy of Family Lawyers.

A number of our barristers speak a foreign language.

We can also provide expert evidence to foreign courts or bodies about matters of English Family Law, including appearing as an expert witness in a foreign court.

Services we provide in international family law

Services for individuals based overseas.

We are also able to call on the expertise of our colleagues in other parts of the 36 Group to assist in related areas such as immigration law, taxation and international criminal or commercial law as required.

Services for Trusts and Companies Based Overseas

We provide advice to offshore trusts and companies who have property or assets in England and Wales which is subject of a claim made by a spouse during divorce proceedings.  We also represent such entities in the event they become parties to such proceedings or face requests for disclosure from the English courts.

Dispute Resolution

Our experienced team of arbitrators and mediators are regularly engaged to mediate and arbitrate disputes where one or both parties are based outside England and Wales.  Where possible we use video-conferencing and other technology to minimise the requirements for the parties and their lawyers to travel.

Many of our arbitrators and mediators have conducted arbitrations and mediations outside England Wales where the parties are resident in another jurisdiction.

Relevant Conventions, Treaties and Statutes

We have experience of dealing with the following international treaties and instruments:

• Brussels I
• Brussels IIA
• European Enforcement Order
• Hague Convention 1980
• Hague Convention 1996
• Hague Convention 2007
• Lugano Convention 2007
• Maintenance Regulation
• Matrimonial Property Regulation
• Rome Convention
• Service Regulation
• Taking Evidence Regulation
• UN Convention on the Recovery Abroad of Maintenance

UK international enforcement legislation including:

• Administration of Justice Act 1920
• Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982
• Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1933
• Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act 1920
• Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1920
• Maintenance Orders Act 1950
• Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972