International family law
Marriage and divorce between countries, cross-border custody, international child abduction and recognition of foreign judgments. Service in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
5,0 · 18 Google reviewsA cross-border family lives in two jurisdictions: a marriage celebrated abroad may need registration in Brazil; a foreign divorce requires recognition to produce effects here; and custody with parents in different countries is governed by the Hague Convention — including against international child abduction.
What a cross-border family requires.
- International marriageMarriage celebrated abroad with effects in Brazil: consular registration, transcription into the Brazilian registry and the applicable property regime.
- International divorceDivorce obtained abroad: recognition of the judgment to produce effects in Brazil — STJ or direct registry annotation depending on the case.
- Custody across countriesCross-border contact, travel authorization, relocation with the child and a calendar that works across time zones and borders.
- International child abduction1980 Hague Convention: return of a child wrongfully removed or retained abroad, through the central authority and judicial action.
- Support between countriesEnforcing support when the payer lives abroad — international cooperation and the applicable treaties.
- Cross-border inheritanceSuccession with assets or heirs in more than one country — coordinated with probate and judgment recognition.
- Prenuptial agreements under foreign lawPrenuptial agreement and property regime when the applicable law is not Brazilian — see prenuptial agreement.
A cross-border family needs decisions that work in both countries.
The most common error is resolving the matter in one country and discovering it has no effect in the other. A divorce obtained abroad produces no automatic effects in Brazil: it requires recognition — via the STJ or, for a consensual divorce without minor or incapacitated children, by direct registry annotation at the civil registry (CPC, art. 961, §5º; CNJ Provimento 149/2023).
Cross-border custody is the most sensitive point: the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction provides for the immediate return of a child wrongfully removed or retained — a fast mechanism through the central authority with short deadlines. The same Convention protects the left-behind parent's right of contact.
The applicable law is not obvious: domicile, nationality and place of the act compete. A marriage celebrated abroad follows the law of the place of celebration for its form, but the property regime may follow different rules — and dividing assets located in Brazil involves Brazilian jurisdiction. The right design anticipates which law decides each question.
Documents between countries require their own formalities: apostille for Convention countries, consular legalization for the others, certified translation and power of attorney for those who must act in Brazil from abroad. We coordinate the full documentary chain.
How we run the case.
- Map the jurisdictions involvedWhere the parties, children and assets are — and which law decides each question.
- Choose forum and routeProceedings in Brazil, abroad, or cooperation between both.
- Complete the documentary chainApostille, certified translation and power of attorney for acting remotely.
- Obtain the decision and its recognitionJudgment in one country, recognition in the other — so it works on both sides.
What to bring to the first conversation.
Documents that speed up the review
The documentary chain between countries is the operational part: apostilled, translated documents with coordinated validity.
- Marriage and birth certificates (apostilled)
- Identity and nationality documents
- Relevant foreign judgments
- Prenuptial agreement or contract, if any
- Proof of the child's habitual residence
- Documents of assets in each country
- Power of attorney for acting in Brazil
- Certified translations of foreign documents
Case review and a written proposal before any step is taken. Informational content under Brazilian Bar Association Rule 205/2021 — it does not replace an assessment of your case.
What clients say on Google.
“From the very start I was looked after exceptionally. The team is attentive and explains every step.”
Amanda M. · Google“Excellent, highly qualified professionals. I highlight the professionalism, the service and the honesty.”
Rita G. · Google“Very polite, patient, always with precise, accurate answers. I recommend them with no reservations!”
Thais T. · GoogleTranslations of real client reviews published on Google.
Who leads this area.
Founding partner at Falchet e Marques (OAB/SP 428.777). Postgraduate in Real Estate Law (PUC/SP) and Succession Law (PUC-Campinas), she leads the real estate, family and probate practice. Straight to the point, no legalese.
Meet Letícia MarquesCommon questions.
Is a foreign divorce valid in Brazil?
It needs recognition. The traditional route is recognition by the STJ. For a consensual divorce without minor or incapacitated children, direct registry annotation is possible (CPC, art. 961, §5º; CNJ Provimento 149/2023) — faster and without judicial proceedings.
The other parent took my child abroad. What now?
If the country signed the 1980 Hague Convention, there is an international return mechanism: central authority, judicial action in the destination country and short deadlines. The Convention protects the child's habitual residence — speed of the application is decisive.
Can a foreigner marry in Brazil?
Yes — the marriage follows Brazilian law, with apostilled and translated documents from the country of origin. The property regime may involve the law of the domicile — a coordinated pact avoids surprises.
How do I collect support from someone abroad?
Through international legal cooperation: a Brazilian judgment is enforced in the payer's country via treaty or letters rogatory, and a foreign support judgment is recognized in Brazil for collection here.
Where does the division of assets happen in an international divorce?
It depends on where the assets are and the law applicable to the marriage. Assets in Brazil involve Brazilian jurisdiction; the right design decides which forum handles each asset and how the decisions are recognized.
Do you work in English or Spanish?
Yes — we serve clients in Portuguese, English and Spanish, in person at Avenida Paulista or by videoconference for those outside Brazil.
Does your family matter cross borders?
Tell us the countries involved and the goal: we identify the right forum, the documentary chain and the procedural path — with a written proposal, in Portuguese, English or Spanish.