Divorce in the Netherlands
Divorce in the Netherlands

Summary/Abstract: Divorce rates and the way divorce disputes are resolved differ over time and between countries. To understand the differences, we need information about the legal and social context. This article describes the legal and social context of divorces in the Netherlands. It gives details about legislation, attitudes towards marriage and divorce, the number of minor children involved, financial consequences, the number of legal divorce proceedings and length of proceedings, the number of legal proceedings about ancillary provisions and the use of mediation. What is striking is the growing number of non-litigious divorce proceedings in the Netherlands. There is a tendency for the parties to reach agreement about the consequences of the divorce before going to court.

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