From filing to the decree absolute, we tell you up front what each step needs, how long it takes and what it costs. An uncontested divorce is generally completed in about seven months.
What changes when you come to us.
Source: the Judiciary, “How to apply for a divorce”. For undefended cases, the wait from listing to hearing is 50 days; for defended cases, 110 days. Reaching agreement early puts you on the upper line.
Complete the forms and bring them, with the original or a certified copy of the marriage certificate, in person to the Family Court Registry in Wan Chai, and pay the HK$630 filing fee.
Complete the forms and bring them, with the original or a certified copy of the marriage certificate, in person to the Family Court Registry in Wan Chai, and pay the HK$630 filing fee. The Registry gives you a case number, which must go on every later document. A petition (or a joint application) is the court document that starts a divorce.
Tip: a joint application does not need to be served on your spouse and goes straight to listing. If there are children under 18, custody and access arrangements must be put forward at the same time.
The petitioner may not serve the papers in person.
The petitioner may not serve the papers in person. A third party must hand the sealed copy to the respondent or send it by post, and the respondent signs and returns Form 4 Acknowledgement of Service. If your spouse’s address is unknown, you can apply to the court for substituted service by newspaper advertisement.
Tip: if the respondent does not return the acknowledgement, the person who served the papers can file an affidavit with the court to prove service, and the case moves forward regardless.
Apply to the Registrar for directions, and the case is placed on one of the lists.
Apply to the Registrar for directions, and the case is placed on one of the lists. If your spouse does not file an answer, the case goes on the Special Procedure List: neither of you needs to attend, and the court deals with it on paper.
Fees: Special Procedure List HK$630 · Defended List HK$1,045 (Judiciary).
Once the Registrar is satisfied with the evidence, a certificate is issued and the court grants the decree nisi.
Once the Registrar is satisfied with the evidence, a certificate is issued and the court grants the decree nisi. This is the first order, and the marriage has not formally ended yet: any remarriage in the meantime is invalid. If there are children under 18, the court must first be satisfied with the arrangements for them.
Tip: ancillary relief (maintenance, transfer of property, dividing property) can be dealt with on a later date, and the court may ask both of you to file affidavits of means.
6 weeks after the decree nisi, file the Notice of Application for Decree Nisi to be made Absolute: Form 5 for a petition, Form 5A for a joint application.
6 weeks after the decree nisi, file the Notice of Application for Decree Nisi to be made Absolute: Form 5 for a petition, Form 5A for a joint application. The Registrar issues the Certificate of Decree Absolute. The marriage is formally ended and you may lawfully remarry.
Tip: if a child is 18 or over but still in full-time education, the court will still consider arrangements for their welfare.
Every case starts with a free 30-minute first consultation, with no commitment. All fees are listed before you engage us. There are no hidden costs.
HK$2,500
A one-off fee, from the first conversation until the Certificate of Decree Absolute is in your hands, with the same dedicated consultant throughout.
Court fees are paid separately to the Judiciary and are listed before you engage us.
It starts with a no-pressure conversation: four stages, and one dedicated consultant to the end.
A free 30-minute first consultation. We listen to your situation and find what is really holding you up: the conditions to apply, your spouse, or the children and property.
We assess which of the five facts is the safest and fastest, decide between a sole petition and a joint application, and explain the time and cost up front.
We draft the petition, agreement and every form, book the filing, arrange service and follow up the listing.
We read every court letter first, then explain it to you. 6 weeks after the decree nisi, we remind you to apply for the decree absolute, and stay with you until the certificate is in your hands.
One person throughout. From the first conversation to the decree absolute, the same dedicated consultant, so you never have to explain everything again.
Fees explained up front. Service fees and court fees are listed before you engage us. There are no hidden charges.
Unlimited phone enquiries. Cantonese, Mandarin and English, with a reply within three hours, usually the same day.
Your case is handled by one dedicated consultant: understanding your situation, drafting documents, following up with the court and explaining every letter. You can use Cantonese, Mandarin or English.
Free first consultation · case assessment · action plan · fee estimate
Divorce petition · agreements · filing and service · replacement marriage certificate
Maintenance calculation · dividing property · recovering arrears · lump-sum payment arrangements
Custody applications · access arrangements · unlimited phone enquiries
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Every case begins with a no-pressure conversation. We listen to your situation, answer in plain language and help you decide your next step.
WhatsApp usUnder the Matrimonial Causes Ordinance (Cap. 179), a petition for divorce can generally be brought only after you have been married for one year. In extreme cases you can apply to the court for leave to bring one earlier.
About seven months for an uncontested case. On the Special Procedure List, the wait from listing to hearing is 50 days; for a defended case it is 110 days. The sooner you agree on the children, maintenance and property, the faster it goes.
The first consultation is free. Before you engage us, we explain the fees, the process and the likely outcome for the whole procedure. Court fees are listed separately. There are no hidden costs.
Even if your spouse disagrees, will not sign or does not respond, you can still bring a petition alone. The court can continue without your spouse, on the facts that are proved.
Where you married makes no difference. If either spouse is domiciled in Hong Kong, habitually resident here or has a substantial connection with Hong Kong, you can proceed in Hong Kong.
You can use tenancy agreements for separate addresses, records of moving out and correspondence. Even if you live under the same roof, separate rooms and meals, separate finances and separate social lives can count as separation.
You can apply for substituted service, such as by newspaper advertisement, and explain the search you made in an affidavit. If your spouse has not returned Form 4 within 8 days, the court can still continue.
If there is no dispute over children or property, you can handle it yourself. If maintenance, arrangements for children, dividing property, difficulty with service or a dispute is involved, get professional help first.
Yes. The court does not decide maintenance by gender. It considers both spouses’ incomes, earning capacity, financial needs, responsibilities, the length of the marriage, the standard of living and contributions to the family.
You can lawfully remarry only after the decree absolute. A decree nisi does not formally end the marriage, so remarrying in the meantime is invalid, and you must wait at least six weeks before applying for the decree absolute.
The only ground the court recognises is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. You must prove one of these facts: adultery, unreasonable behaviour, one year of separation with consent, two years of separation, or desertion.
You must prove that your spouse committed adultery and that you find it intolerable to live together. If you keep living together for more than six months after finding out, you can no longer rely on that adultery.
