In brief
Remote divorce guidance means that the entire legal assistance during a divorce takes place without a physical appointment at the office, via secure video calling, email, and telephone.
- A divorce via video calling follows the same legal steps as guidance at the office: court proceedings, settlement agreement, parenting plan, maintenance, and division of assets.
- Simmelink Lawyers works with one dedicated lawyer per case. Even with remote guidance, the same lawyer continues to oversee the content of the file.
- Remote guidance is suitable for clients throughout the Netherlands and for Dutch nationals and expats abroad with a divorce issue that falls under Dutch law.
- Consultations take place via secure video calling (Microsoft Teams); a physical appointment is not required but remains possible if the client so desires.
- There are no additional costs associated with remote guidance compared to guidance at the office.
When should you choose remote guidance?
Remote guidance is a full-fledged option for anyone for whom a physical appointment in Maarssen is practically inconvenient. This applies to clients elsewhere in the Netherlands, but also to Dutch nationals living temporarily or permanently abroad who wish to arrange a divorce through the Dutch courts.
In practice, clients also choose video calling if they prefer to conduct the conversations from their own environment: without travel time, at a moment that suits them. Many clients find that this provides more peace of mind during a period that already demands a lot from them.
Depending on the circumstances, a combination may also be possible: one or two consultations at the office and further guidance remotely. This is general information and does not constitute individual legal advice.
What does the lawyer arrange in a remote divorce?
The guidance covers the same topics as a divorce at the office. Depending on the situation, it involves a combination of:
- The divorce proceedings at the court, including the petition, any hearing, and the decree
- The divorce settlement agreement with arrangements regarding assets, the home, and pensions
- The parenting plan for minor children, including custody, residence, and child maintenance
- Spousal maintenance: calculation, agreements, and if necessary, proceedings
- Division of assets, owner-occupied home, own business, or director-major shareholder (DGA) structure
You can read more about the content of divorce guidance on the divorce lawyer page.
How does a video call consultation work?
After the initial contact via the contact form, the secretariat will contact you within one working day. The appointment will be scheduled at a time that suits you.
Simmelink Lawyers uses Microsoft Teams for video calls. You will receive a secure invitation by email. An account or installation is generally not required; the connection works in most browsers.
You can read more about the technical working method for video calling on the video calling with your lawyer page.
International situations and clients from abroad
For clients living abroad or who have a divorce situation involving multiple countries, video calling is often the only practical option in practice. In these situations, Simmelink Lawyers also guides Dutch nationals abroad and expats in the Netherlands.
In an international divorce, additional questions arise regarding the jurisdiction of the court and the applicable law. Depending on the circumstances, the Dutch court may have jurisdiction if the parties live in the Netherlands or if one of them has Dutch nationality.
You can read more about international divorce situations on the international family law page. If proceedings are already underway elsewhere, you can also request a second opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The legal content is identical: procedure, settlement agreement, parenting plan, maintenance, and division. The only difference is the method of contact. All documents are drafted and handled in the same way.
In many cases, yes. In an international divorce, additional questions regarding jurisdiction and applicable law play a role. Whether the Dutch court has jurisdiction depends on the specific circumstances. This is general information and does not constitute individual legal advice.
No. The rates are the same as for guidance at the office. You can read more about rates on the rates and costs page.
That is possible by mutual agreement. The working method will be discussed during the first consultation, depending on what best suits the situation.
After registration, the secretariat will contact you within one working day. During an intake consultation, a file is opened and the guidance begins. During an advisory consultation, you discuss your legal situation at an hourly rate, without further work following.
