Family law: decisions that need care and clear information.
The right next step depends on the relationship, the documents, where events happened and the needs of any children. Safety comes before administrative steps.
Since 10 May 2025, mainland-plus-foreign-national, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or overseas-Chinese cases can use nationwide processing at a registry authorized for that case. The mainland partner's hukou locality no longer restricts the choice.
Both partners attend in person. Confirm eligibility and the office's authority before booking.
Mainland applicants use an identity card and the required signed declarations; a hukou booklet is no longer required.
Foreign applicants need accepted identity documents and no-spouse evidence. Treaty rules can change authentication formalities; confirm document format and Chinese translation with the registry.
The agreed registration route requires agreement on children, property and debts. It has a 30-day cooling-off period followed by a statutory certificate-collection window; confirm your actual dates with the registry. A court route is different. Administrative divorce is not accepted if the marriage was not registered in mainland China. If agreement is impossible or documents involve another jurisdiction, ask about the appropriate court procedure. A filed application alone does not end the marriage.
Children's interests and the facts guide care and support arrangements. Keep care, school, health and existing-order records. Get advice before relocation; seizing or hiding a child can trigger court protection measures.
List ownership, payments, debts, parental contributions and written agreements. There is no universal 50/50 formula: the Civil Code and the 2025 family interpretation require fact-specific analysis.
If you are in immediate danger, move somewhere safer if you can and call 110. Seek medical care for injuries. Keep police, medical and message records somewhere safe. Ask about a court personal-safety protection order; you can apply separately from divorce. Protection is assessed by the court. A safety order does not itself settle divorce, children or property.
Marriage validity, divorce, children and property can follow different applicable-law rules. Keep identity, residence, marriage and existing-order records. Ask which court or registry can act, whether overseas documents need recognition and what is required before moving a child or transferring assets.
Marriage-registration rules changed in May 2025. Nationwide processing does not mean every office can handle every nationality or document combination. Check the official Shenzhen registry directory, the office’s authority, document authentication and Chinese-translation requirements before attending.
No. Registration divorce has agreement, waiting and certificate steps; court divorce follows a different route. Confirm the relevant procedure and your actual dates with the registry or your lawyer.
Must I start divorce proceedings to request a protection order?
A personal-safety protection order can be requested separately from divorce. The court assesses the application; an order does not itself decide divorce, children or property. In immediate danger, seek emergency help first.
Use the official Chinese text to check legal wording. Translations and this guide are reading aids; check the version, effective date and local procedure before acting.