Lesson 1Procedure for agreed divorce before a notary vs. court divorce: steps, timeframes, proof requirementsThis part compares agreed divorce before a notary with court divorce, explaining conditions, drafting the agreement, steps, timeframes, proof needed, and court checks when kids or vulnerable partners are involved.
Eligibility conditions for notarial divorceDrafting and content of the divorce agreementJudicial divorce petition, hearings, and stagesTimelines, delays, and cost considerationsEvidentiary requirements and judicial controlLesson 2Sharing marital property under standard regime (régime légal) and handling assets in one spouse’s name vs. joint savingsThis part looks at sharing marital property under the standard community system, separating shared and personal assets, handling bank accounts and savings, and explaining liquidation, equalisation payments, debts, and hidden assets.
Structure of the French legal community regimeClassification of community and separate assetsTreatment of bank accounts and joint savingsLiquidation steps and equalization paymentsDebts, hidden assets, and liability issuesLesson 3Child residence (résidence de l’enfant) and time allocation: common solutions, visitation rights, banned relocations in EUThis part covers child living arrangements and time-sharing after divorce, typical setups, visiting rights, relocation bans in EU context, child's views, and best interests including EU cross-border rules.
Alternating versus primary residence modelsStandard visitation and holiday schedulesCriteria for fixing or changing residenceRelocation disputes and EU free‑movement limitsHearing the child and best interests analysisLesson 4Spousal support (prestation compensatoire): purpose, calculation (lump sum vs. rente), timing and enforcementThis part analyses spousal support in French law, its purpose, who qualifies, lump sum vs. ongoing payments, calculation, timing, changes, termination, and enforcement locally and abroad.
Concept and aims of prestation compensatoireFactors guiding amount and form of supportLump sum versus annuity: advantages and risksProcedural timing, modification, and terminationSecurity interests and enforcement of awardsLesson 5Jurisdiction and court choice for divorce when spouses live in different countriesThis part deals with jurisdiction and court choice in international divorces, EU and French rules on residence and nationality, pending cases, parallel actions, and picking the best forum and law.
EU and French jurisdictional connecting factorsHabitual residence, nationality, and domicile testsLis pendens, related actions, and forum conflictsForum shopping and strategic forum selectionApplicable law and limits on party autonomyLesson 6Child support (pension alimentaire): calculation principles, tables, judicial discretion, cross-border enforcementThis part explains child support calculation in French courts using guidelines, income, judge's discretion, changes, enforcement methods, and cross-border recovery in EU and elsewhere.
Legal basis and scope of child support dutyUse of national reference tables and income dataJudicial discretion and deviation from guideline amountsModification, indexation, and duration of paymentsDomestic and cross‑border enforcement mechanismsLesson 7Rules for immovable property bought during marriage: community presumption, contribution claims, compensation for useThis part focuses on property bought during marriage, community presumption, proving separate ownership, contribution claims, reimbursements, and compensation for exclusive use after separation.
Community presumption for real estate assetsProof and tracing of separate real propertyFinancing contributions and reimbursement claimsUse and occupation compensation after separationRegistration, priority, and third‑party effectsLesson 8Divorce effects on parental authority: French rules on joint authority, child residence changes, best interestsThis part looks at divorce effects on parental authority, joint authority presumption, changing residence or decisions, emergency limits, and child's best interests in all rulings.
Principle of continued joint parental authorityAllocation of day‑to‑day and major decisionsModification or withdrawal of parental rightsEmergency measures and protective ordersBest interests assessment and judicial reviewLesson 9Overview of divorce types in French law: mutual consent, accepted, irretrievable breakdown, faultThis part outlines main French divorce types, grounds, proof, procedures for mutual consent, accepted, breakdown, fault-based, with tips on choosing the right one.
Divorce by mutual consent: structure and effectsAccepted divorce: areas of agreement and disputeIrretrievable breakdown and separation durationFault‑based divorce and proof of misconductChoosing the appropriate divorce groundLesson 10Practical court strategy and urgent protective measures (mesures provisoires) in French family casesThis part covers court strategy in French family cases, forum choice, evidence, negotiation, urgent measures, interim relief, and links to criminal or child protection cases.
Choosing claims, forum, and procedural postureEvidence gathering, witnesses, and written submissionsNegotiation, mediation, and settlement tacticsProvisional measures on housing, income, and childrenInteraction with criminal and child‑protection cases
