On behalf of The Law Office of Wickersham and Bowers posted in Family Law on Tuesday May 20th, 2025.
Divorces involving more than one country can be messy, especially in Florida, where international travel, relocation, and global assets are common. If you’re dealing with a custody order from another country or splitting property overseas, you’re working with multiple legal systems at once. That brings a unique set of challenges that regular divorce cases don’t have.
How Florida Courts Handle Foreign Custody Orders
Florida follows a law called the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). It allows courts here to enforce custody orders from other countries, but only if the foreign court followed similar rules.
Both parents must have had a chance to be involved in the original case. If the order checks those boxes, Florida can act fast, sometimes within days. Parents can also turn to the Hague Convention for help, but only if both countries are members.
Splitting Property That’s Not in the U.S.
Florida uses equitable distribution, which means courts try to divide marital property fairly. That includes property outside the U.S., like a house in Spain, a bank account in Canada, or stock in a company based overseas.
However, some countries don’t follow U.S. court orders. If that happens, Florida courts might give one spouse more U.S.-based assets to balance things out.
Will a Foreign Divorce Be Valid in Florida?
It depends. Florida may recognize a divorce from another country if both spouses had notice and were allowed to take part in the process. Also, at least one person must have lived in that country at the time of the divorce. If those rules aren’t met, Florida might not accept the divorce.
On the flip side, enforcing a Florida divorce in another country could take extra steps, like hiring a lawyer overseas or filing in a foreign court.
We Help Florida Clients Deal With International Divorce Issues
At the Law Office of Wickersham & Bowers, we help people sort through cross-border divorce problems, whether it’s custody, asset division, or getting a court order recognized. Contact us today to talk about your options and get help protecting your future.