Divorce Lawyer
In Costa Rica, a country where Catholicism is the national religion, family bonds are very tight, and therefore the divorce laws are vastly different than those in the United States. There are many laws relating to family law that most expats are not aware of, and so if you are in need of a divorce lawyer, you’ll want to get one who understands the laws of this Central American country.
If you are from the United States and marry a person in Costa Rica, you must abide by the divorce laws in this country. This means that you have to wait three years before you can obtain a divorce under Costa Rican law. Also, you should be aware that if you do marry someone in Costa Rica, you are not only marrying him or her, but also their entire family. Your divorce lawyer will explain this to you.
The divorce courts heavily favor the woman in a matter of violence. In cases of domestic battery, a woman is usually believed over a man. A man standing in front of a judge is pretty much doomed to a guilty verdict.
The Costa Rican government is very protective of families and children in the case of a divorce. If you want to leave the country, the government requires you are paid up on all of your support payments, or pay at least thirteen months in advance, before your depart. This is because many people who get married in Costa Rica decide to get divorced and leave will never send another support check.
If a male expat marries a CR national and she adulterously bears another man’s child, the child will bear the expat’s last name and whether the DNA proves him to not be the biological father, he will be ordered to pay child support by the divorce court.
Prior to marital commitment, it is advisable to consult a divorce lawyer. Costa Rica allows for a prenuptial and amendments to them after marriage. Costa Rica is a country known as a sex tourist destination, so be aware that what you think is love may only be economics.
Costa Rica is not an easy country in which to obtain a divorce. In order to understand the proceedings and ensure that your interests are protected, you’ll need a divorce lawyer, even if the divorce is amicable. You will especially need an experienced divorce lawyer in the case of a contested divorce. Seek recommendations and references before selecting one; nothing would be worse if you are a man, than hiring a lawyer that is sympathetic only to the wife.
Diana Wilson
