10 Divorce tips for Expatriate men

Divorce is one of the most stressful life events that it is possible to experience. 

In the context of often overwhelming emotional upheaval, anxiety and anger, life changing decisions have to be made in respect of children arrangements, the division of assets and sharing of future income. Divorce is always difficult, but the pain and costs can be contained if a rational, informed, emotionally honest and child-focused approach can be taken. 

1. Protect your children. 
Do all you can to agree with your spouse that your children’s emotional health is your mutual priority. No matter the reasons for the breakdown of the marriage, you will always be child-raising partners. Keep reaffirming this to yourself and to her and always put your children’s interests first. It your responsibility to read into and study the effects of divorce on children and to implement age appropriate strategies to help them through this difficult time. 

2. An atmosphere of mistrust could lead her to flee with the children. Keep the children’s passports secure and offer legal safeguards to alleviate her concerns.
A recurring theme of expat divorces, particularly in Middle East countries, is a fear of the potential repercussions of Sharia based laws in respect of the children. There have been a small number of high profile but fact-specific cases that have made national news in the UK that appear to have fed the underlying paranoia. The result is that at the first sign of conflict, there is an increased risk that mothers will simply flee the country rather than risk being subject to local law. Although such actions are treated as child abduction, if a mother flees with the children it can be a costly and uncertain process for the father to have the children returned. 

Both parties should therefore be aware that that agreements in respect of children arrangements can be put simply before the reconciliation committee of the Dubai courts, to produce a binding agreement capable of enforcement in the UAE. The mother’s concerns can therefore be alleviated from the outset and the children are more likely to remain in the same country as the father. Further negotiations can be conducted calmly and free from mutual mistrust and suspicion. 

3. Choice of jurisdiction
A court’s ability to accept an application for divorce is called its “jurisdiction”. For expats, there is usually a choice of jurisdiction in which a divorce may take place. The choice of jurisdiction on divorce can lead to dramatic differences in outcome in terms of division of assets and income.

Read more here http://www.expatriatelaw.com/10-divorce-tips-expatriate-men/