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Your situation is increasingly common. Today, many people travel to foreign countries – for example as college students, for business purposes, in the Peace Corps, or just to explore and have fun. They may stay in the foreign country for an extended period of time – long enough to meet and fall in love with a person from that country, and then get married there.
A Complex Matter
Getting married in a country other than the United States provides a marriage that is valid in the United States and recognized in all 50 states, but the question of what happens to your foreign marriage here in the U.S. when you want a divorce may have a very complicated answer.
The vast majority of American divorce lawyers handle only "American" divorces, because that's the vast majority of couples who seek their help: two American citizens who were married in the U.S. now want to divorce. Some attorneys (especially in border states or in locales with a large immigrant population) may also be familiar with divorce law in Mexico, Canada, or other countries.
Every Country's Divorce Laws Are Different
You will probably need to obtain a divorce in the country in which you were married. This may or may not be a fairly straightforward and relatively easy matter. The crux of the issue is that every country has different divorce and custody laws and standards for divorce.
The laws may differ even among various provinces or states within the foreign country. In addition, the divorce court procedures vary greatly among the many countries of the world. Some decisions may need to be made about which jurisdiction to file you divorce in, and about what your custody agreement will be.
Consult an International Divorce Attorney
The complexity of many international divorces requires an attorney who is experienced with this type of case. Talk to an international divorce attorney today, and find out more about your options.