The 14 Best Divorce and Family Lawyers in Paris

Clients who prefer to meet remotely get a full choice of formats at this practice in the 8th arrondissement: written online consultation, phone, video or a meeting at the office. Leïla Aïssaoui, at the Paris bar since 2020, focuses on family law and family criminal law. She handles amicable and contested divorce, shared custody, maintenance, property division and urgent protective measures in cases of domestic violence. Adoption, filiation and guardianship are also covered.

Couples who already agree on everything can use this online service to keep the cost and paperwork of a divorce down. Run by the practice of Matthieu Gallet in the 8th arrondissement, it handles judge-free divorce by mutual consent through a personal online space and by phone, with a single signing meeting. Fees are fixed packages, payable by card in four instalments, and legal aid is accepted. Contested divorces before the family judge are handled too.

When a separation also involves violence or a criminal complaint, Florence Christienne's combined practice is worth a call. She works alone in the 6th arrondissement, pairing family law with criminal defence and representation of victims. Her family work covers divorce, judicial separation, children's residence, maintenance, protection orders and ending a PACS. She collaborates with notaires, mediators and psychologists, which helps when a case needs more than legal advice.

Couples with significant assets or ties to more than one country are the natural clients of this practice in the 6th arrondissement. Laurence Mayer holds the official certificate of specialisation in family law, persons and their assets, as well as a doctorate in law. She handles mutual-consent and contested divorces, the division of matrimonial property and the prestation compensatoire. International and European divorces are a regular strand, and the website has English pages for anglophone clients.

Couples willing to negotiate rather than litigate should consider Jennifer Smadja, who is trained in collaborative law and belongs to the French and international collaborative-law associations. From Avenue Mozart in the 16th, she handles amicable and contested divorce, the end of a PACS, children's residence and shared custody. She also acts for grandparents seeking visiting rights. Fees are agreed in writing, with flat fees often possible for divorce by mutual consent.

Fain Avocats suits clients who want a family-law firm they can reach quickly and pay in stages. Founder Joackim Fain, at the Paris bar since 2004, runs a practice in the 16th arrondissement devoted to family and personal-wealth law. Work covers divorce and separation, parental authority and residence, maintenance and the liquidation of matrimonial property. A free first phone conversation lets you judge the fit before booking a meeting at the office.

Parents worried about a child not being returned, or about violence at home, will find this practice in the 17th arrondissement relevant. Céline Halimi, trained at Panthéon-Sorbonne and the Paris bar school, combines family law with criminal law for both victims and defendants. Her family work includes divorce, judicial separation, the end of unmarried relationships, custody, parental authority and child support. She also handles the division of property before and after divorce.

Parents hoping to settle without a long court battle should look at this practice in the 2nd arrondissement. Mélody Dubonnet works in family law, personal wealth and family criminal law, and offers family mediation and collaborative law as alternatives to litigation. She takes a particular interest in fathers' rights and in spouses facing psychological manipulation. Appointments can be booked online, and the office can also be reached by phone or WhatsApp.

Couples married abroad, or with one spouse living outside France, will find international cases at the centre of Cabinet Ancel's work. The firm in the 1st arrondissement handles amicable, contested and fault-based divorces, international family disputes and the exequatur of foreign rulings. It also covers shared residence, maintenance and the prestation compensatoire. The website has an English version, and a free quote can be requested online before any commitment.

Divorcing couples who share a property will find unusual depth on that question here, because Catherine Lam practises both family law and real-estate law. From the 2nd arrondissement she handles divorce, children, maintenance, the prestation compensatoire and matrimonial regimes. Her articles cover jointly owned homes after a split, occupation indemnities and agreeing a sale price. A dedicated section addresses expatriates divorcing in France, and the consultation fee is published on her website.

Families whose problems overlap with a struggling business or a criminal case can keep everything with one lawyer here. From the 17th arrondissement, Sophie Hagège handles separation and divorce, PACS disputes, filiation and adoption, alongside criminal law and companies in difficulty. She also deals with guardianship and other protection regimes for vulnerable adults. Her phone line is open seven days a week, and appointments can be booked online.

LGBTQ+ clients, and families with an immigration question alongside a separation, are well placed here. Julie Maire, at the Paris bar since 2010, practises family law, children's rights and immigration law from the 10th arrondissement. She handles divorce, custody, maintenance, parental authority, domestic violence and parentage disputes. Legal aid is accepted, consultations can take place by video, and fees are explained at the first meeting.

Expat couples whose marriage involves French and American law have a natural contact in Marie-Camille de Polignac, who is admitted to both the Paris and New York bars. She practises only family and personal-wealth law from the 8th arrondissement, handling international divorce, international child abduction, custody and maintenance. The first meeting lasts about an hour and can take place at the office, by phone or by video. Her website has an English version.

French expatriates and couples married abroad can learn a lot from this firm in the 16th arrondissement before they even book. Led by Jérémie Darmon, it concentrates on divorce, family law and successions, with dedicated pages on expatriate divorces in places such as Dubai and Morocco. Online simulators estimate the prestation compensatoire and child maintenance. Consultations can be booked online, or a lawyer calls back within 24 hours.