FOUR WAYS TO DIVORCE 

HOW DO YOU WANT TO GET DIVORCED?

Divorce mediation

Mediation is a way to resolve conflicts. The parties try to come to an agreement under the supervision of an independent third party, the divorce mediator. Mediation can be applied to any conflict, but especially in a divorce mediation can be the most suitable way to resolve differences of opinion and make decisions about what needs to be settled.

Collaborative divorce

Going to court or engaging a mediator is not the only way to resolve a dispute. Collaborative divorce is also a form of dispute resolution. This way of resolving a conflict between partners has the same advantages as mediation, such as avoiding a lengthy and costly procedure.

Both parties have their own divorce lawyer

If you have decided to get divorced, it is advisable to hire a divorce lawyer. Your divorce lawyer will represent your interests throughout the entire procedure and will be in contact with your partner’s divorce lawyer.

Divorce proceedings start with filing a petition with the court. Your partner will be given the opportunity to respond to this petition through a notice of defence. The court will then schedule a hearing to hear from each of you about how you wish to manage the impacts of the divorce. Ultimately, the court pronounces the divorce in a divorce decree. The divorce is not complete until the divorce decree is included in the register of births, deaths and marriages.

A joint petition

You can also file a petition for divorce with the court jointly. If you and your partner are still able to discuss and agree on matters with each other, it is possible to file a joint petition for divorce.

Your divorce lawyer will then act for you both and draw up a divorce agreement in consultation with you. In this agreement, you arrange the consequences of the divorce with each other. In that case, the proceedings before the court will be handled in writing. The court will then lay down the consequences in a decision. The divorce is not official until the divorce decree is included in the registers of births, deaths and marriages.

Costs of divorce

How much does a divorce cost? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to that question. On average, a divorce costs between EUR 2,000 and EUR 4,000, but the costs of a divorce depend on various factors.

One of the most important factors is how you and your partner feel about it. Are you at complete odds with each other, or are you still on speaking terms? In the latter case, you can opt for divorce mediation, and you usually share the costs. If you both opt for your own lawyer, you each also pay the costs for that lawyer.

Another important factor is how complicated the divorce is. Consider, for example, having to settle all kinds of financial matters such as a joint mortgage, spousal support, any debts, pension or your own business.

Subsidised legal aid

If you meet the conditions, the government pays a fixed amount for the costs of the divorce lawyer, and you only pay a personal contribution. This is called subsidised legal aid. You can read all about it at www.rechtsbijstand.nl. 

RWV Advocaten does not work with the subsidised legal aid system. If you would still like to use it, please contact the Juridisch Loket (0900-8020). They will refer you to a divorce lawyer who does work with subsidised legal aid.

what our clients say about us

Kimberley Collée's expert tips and advice helped me understand a voluntary departure arrangement with my employer. She also conducted a legal review of the associated agreement. Additionally, with her help, I was able to have the agreement adjusted and clarified to prevent any misunderstandings. The entire process went very smoothly and to my complete satisfaction.

Eddy

private

Excellent support during several divorce related court proceedings. Ciska Elsinga has successfully accompanied me through several court proceedings. She is empathetic, effective and has in-depth expertise. The cooperation and communication with her was excellent.

Carsten

PRIVATE

Support in a prolonged family matter. Truly involved, hardworking and empathetic. As a client, I felt seen and appreciated. Charlotte always prepared thoroughly for hearings, bringing extensive knowledge to the table — a quality that is not only pleasant for a client but also of great value in the courtroom. A wonderful combination of a pleasant personality and a diligent professional.

Anonymous

Private

It is always challenging to be involved as an outsider in a situation where many facts are crucial to resolving a difficult and long-standing case as quickly as possible. However, Birgitte seems to have no trouble with that at all. She is able to structure both the factual/business aspects and the emotional components effectively, allowing her to get started quickly and take control of the process. That is very reassuring and instills confidence. Thank you for the great collaboration, Birgitte!

Leonoor van den Burg-Duivenvoorde

private

I needed a lawyer to resolve a deadlocked situation—removing my ex-partner from joint liability for our mortgage. Thanks to Charlotte Houben’s expertise, skill, thorough consultations, empathy, decisiveness, and speed, it was successfully achieved. I had a very positive experience and was helped with a difficult case where others saw no solution. If you have a complex case, I would definitely recommend her.

Bas

Private

My experience with Ciska Elsinga and RWV was excellent! I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the outstanding legal assistance you provided in my recent case. Your professionalism, dedication, and expertise truly made a difference. Thanks to your guidance, I always felt well-informed and supported, which gave me great reassurance during this challenging time. Your determination and commitment led to a positive outcome for which I am incredibly grateful.

Anonymous

Private

Nadine van der Slot knows our organization well, is highly knowledgeable and engaged, thinks proactively, delves into the situation, and always provides a clear and realistic overview of the possibilities and risks.

Marian Habraken

AB Zuid-Holland

No matter the issue, I always call Nadine van der Slot. She consistently provides us with solid advice, is reliable and personable, and communicates clearly. Her strategy is bold but highly effective. We have complete trust in her expertise.

Ruben Leeflang

Leeflang Cleaning & Transport BV

Sylvia Timmermans: We are absolutely thrilled with the result. Nadine, Kimberley and Jeroen incorporated all our wishes into the Legal Design documents. The feedback from employees has been very positive. They appreciate that the documents are concise, clear, and well-structured—making them engaging to read.

Sylvia TimmermansDunavie

Ciska Elsinga supported me during a mediation process concerning a divorce. I had a very positive experience with her. Our collaboration was pleasant, as Ciska is legally decisive while also being attentive to the human side and relationships. With her quick and efficient service, she is a true pillar of support!

Anonymous

private

Mr. Dekkers assisted us very accurately with the settlement of our previous lease agreement (multi-tenant business building) and the associated service cost reconciliation. His advice and insights were spot on. He also helped us negotiate a new agreement.

Elisabeth van der Meulen-Soepboer

Guest parent agency De Wâlden

At RWV Advocaten, Charlotte Houben provided me with excellent support in handling my divorce, offering both understanding and support. Communication was clear, and all agreements were honored.

Maryna van der Spoel

Private

Despite the difficult time, Ciska Elsinga assisted me well in finalizing my divorce. Due to certain circumstances, my divorce was more complex, partly because of an international aspect. That’s why I was looking for a family law lawyer with sufficient experience. Ciska came across as highly competent and gave me honest advice. My conversations with her were pleasant, and she thought along with me to find the best possible solutions.

Anonymous

Private

Thanks to Harjo and Kelly, we opted for bankruptcy in time. It was not an easy decision, but ultimately it was the best choice for both the company and the staff. Because of them, we knew exactly what to do in this difficult situation.

Penny BuurmanBuurman & Buurman

Jeroen and Jasper were quick to make themselves extremely clear, and advised me not to roll out the system in the way I had envisaged as the risks were simply too great. Although I was naturally disappointed at first, I am glad to have received such open and honest advice.

Bas ZwaagSoftware engineer en ondernemer

Matthy, Harjo and Jasper were very pleasant to work with and responded rapidly to changes. Thanks in part to their expertise and strategic advice, we were able to resolve the dispute and achieve a very satisfactory result. As a copyright specialist, Jasper provided us with a rock-solid legal foundation. This had a major influence on the final outcome.

Henk Braat

Olympus Nederland

Kelly was the perfect partner for reviewing our franchise agreements. Her experience and specialist knowledge of franchise law enabled her to discuss the franchise aspects of our business in both practical and legal terms. The communication between us was very pleasant, both for us and for our franchisees.

Mark RooijersR.V.E. Plantenhandel

Very occasionally, you run into an opportunity you simply cannot afford to ignore. In that case, it’s a matter of not hesitating and acting quickly and decisively. Thanks to Matthy's knowledge and experience, plus the backing of English documentation and a network of foreign contacts, Matthy and his team proved to be the ideal advisers to help us complete this deal. Read more

John CelieGroenland B.V.

It was a long process during which Matthy was available for consultation at any time, always striking the right tone. His experience in the legal and financial world meant that he had a full grasp of the financial implications of the transaction. At the same time, his role also involved managing a team of bankers, financial advisers and tax lawyers. Read more

Loek PostmaBodyTrade B.V.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT NOW FOR A FREE INTRODUCTORY MEETING IN LEIDEN

If you want to discuss the various options with our divorce lawyers or if you would like more information about the process or costs of divorce proceedings, for example, you are more than welcome to come and get to know us. You can come together (for example, to explore the possibilities of mediation) or alone if you both hire your own lawyer.

You can give us a call (+31 71-7502205) or use the form. The meeting takes a maximum of 30 minutes, and we use this time to inform you about the divorce process.

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