A Wide Spectrum of Issues

When people hear the phrase "international family law" for the first time, they are often confused about what it means. The most common idea is that lawyers who work in this area deal mostly with situations where a child is abducted and taken to another country. Child abductions are certainly an important part of international family law, but there are many other ways that a family may encounter international law.

It is very important for you to be aware of the possible international influence on your case. It is equally important that you have a family law attorney capable of handling tough international law issues. Schwartz & Associates, LLC, is a recognized leader in international family law. Attorney Philip Schwartz has nearly40 years of experience helping families whose disputes go beyond U.S. borders.

Common International Family Law Issues

There are a variety of questions that arise in family law cases involving international law. Some of these are:

• International divorce: These are divorces where a spouse lives in another country or is a national of a foreign country. In these situations, we can help you strategically choose the country in which to file for divorce, and we work diligently to find evidence located abroad.
• Property division: When a couple owns assets in other countries, it can be difficult to locate and value that property. Additionally, the property settlement must be written so that it is enforceable in each country where the spouses own property.
• Tax implications: When money and property are divided, the tax laws of the foreign country can have a great impact on divorce. Attorney Schwartz is adept at handling international tax issues.
• Child custody and child visitation: If parents live far from each other, it is difficult for a parent and child to maintain a close relationship. We can help facilitate frequent telephone conversations, and we often try to arrange for children to spend summers with the non-custodial parent.
• Child support: For parents living in different countries, fluctuation in the value of each country's currency can cause complications in child support payments. It can also be difficult to bring an action to collect support in a foreign country. We routinely work with local attorneys in the foreign country who can help us effectively protect your rights.

In addition to these larger issues, we work diligently to make sure that every phase of your international family law case is taken care of. We handle complicated issues involving service of process, taking depositions of individuals overseas, and obtaining documents from governmental agencies in other countries.

Contact a Virginia Asset Valuation Attorney

The scope of international family law is wide indeed. If you believe an international law issue may affect you, we can help. To schedule a consultation, call 703-341-4758, toll free at 866-313-3775, or contact us online.