Divorce & Adultery

Consensual Divorce Lawyer

Consensual Divorce Lawyer | What to prepare before you go to Family Court together

Summary

A consensual divorce is a divorce both spouses agree to, confirmed through a simplified court procedure rather than a lawsuit (민법 제834조). It still requires both spouses to appear in person before a Family Court judge, complete a statutory waiting period, and — if there are minor children — submit an agreement on custody and child support before the divorce can be finalized (민법 제836조의2). Even though there is no dispute over "whether" to divorce, disagreements often surface later over property division, alimony, or the details of a custody agreement.

Family Law Applicable law: 민법 제834조, 제836조, 제837조 Uncontested Procedure Family Court

Consensual Divorce | Eligibility, the confirmation session, and the waiting period

Consensual divorce is only available when both spouses genuinely agree, and the court builds in a cooling-off period even for couples who are certain.

Who can file for a consensual divorce

Both spouses must jointly appear at the Family Court with jurisdiction over either spouse's address and confirm their intent to divorce is genuine and voluntary (민법 제834조). If one spouse cannot appear in person for a compelling reason, the court may allow limited exceptions, but this is decided case by case and is not guaranteed.

The mandatory waiting period

After filing, couples with a minor child must wait three months before the confirmation date, and couples without a minor child must wait one month (민법 제836조의2 제2항). This period exists so that the decision is not made impulsively, and it applies even when both spouses are fully in agreement.

What happens if one spouse doesn't show up

If either spouse fails to appear at the scheduled confirmation date without a valid reason, the divorce is not confirmed and the couple would need to file again or pursue a different route, such as mediation or litigation. This is one of the most common reasons consensual divorces stall even when both sides agree in principle.

Consensual Divorce | Custody, visitation, and child support agreements

If the couple has a minor child, the court will not confirm the divorce until a written agreement on custody matters is submitted and reviewed.

Mandatory submission of a custody and support agreement

Parents of a minor child must submit an agreement covering who will have parental rights and custody, the child support amount and payment method, and the visitation arrangement, before the court will confirm the divorce (민법 제836조의2 제4항, 제837조). The court can order corrections if the agreement is unclear or appears to disregard the child's welfare.

Why the child support agreement matters later

An agreement that is filed with the court and confirmed can, in some cases, be enforced similarly to a court order if payments are not made, which is different from an informal side agreement between the parents. Vague terms about amount or timing are a frequent source of disputes years after the divorce is finalized.

Visitation disputes after the divorce

Even with a signed agreement, disagreements over visitation schedules or handover arrangements are common. If the agreement breaks down, either parent can request the Family Court to adjust custody, support, or visitation terms afterward, since these matters are not treated as permanently fixed.

Consensual Divorce | Property division and alimony outside the court's review

Unlike custody arrangements, the Family Court does not review or approve property division or alimony terms in a consensual divorce — this is a point many clients misunderstand.

The court does not check your property agreement

In a consensual divorce, the Family Court confirms the divorce itself and reviews the custody agreement, but it does not examine whether the property split or alimony terms are fair (민법 제839조의2). Couples are free to agree on any division verbally or in a private contract, which means a poorly drafted agreement can leave one spouse without real protection.

Putting the property agreement in writing

Because the court will not verify the property agreement, it is common practice to draft a separate divorce settlement agreement — sometimes notarized — covering real estate, debt, retirement pay, and alimony before or shortly after the confirmation date. This document becomes critical if either party later disputes what was actually agreed.

The two-year deadline if no agreement is reached

If the couple divorces without settling property division, either spouse can still file a claim for division of property, but this right expires two years after the divorce is finalized (민법 제839조의2 제3항). Missing this deadline generally means losing the ability to claim a share of property acquired during the marriage.

Consensual Divorce | From application to final confirmation

Initial consultation and agreement review
Before filing, it helps to review what has and hasn't been agreed on — division of property, alimony, and if applicable, custody and child support — since the court process itself won't resolve gaps in these agreements.

Joint application at Family Court
Both spouses submit a joint application for divorce confirmation (이혼의사확인신청서) along with family relation certificates and, if there is a minor child, the custody and support agreement or a plan for one.

Waiting period
The court sets a confirmation date after either one month (no minor children) or three months (with a minor child) from the filing date (민법 제836조의2 제2항).

Joint appearance and confirmation
Both spouses appear together before a Family Court judge, confirm their intent is voluntary, and receive the confirmation of divorce (이혼확인서등본) if approved.

Reporting the divorce
Either spouse must report the divorce to the relevant district/city office within three months of the confirmation date; if this deadline is missed, the confirmation itself can lose effect and the process may need to be repeated (민법 제836조 제1항).

Consensual Divorce | How fees are typically structured

Court filing fees and stamps
Consensual divorce filings involve a nominal court filing fee and document stamp costs, which are far lower than litigation filing fees since there is no dispute for the court to adjudicate.

Legal consultation fee
Many clients engage a lawyer not to litigate but to review or draft the property division and custody agreements, since the court does not check whether these terms are fair or complete.

Document drafting fee
If a separate written settlement agreement or notarized document covering property, debt, and alimony is prepared, drafting fees are usually calculated based on the complexity and value of the assets involved rather than a flat rate.

Additional costs if agreement later breaks down
If disputes arise later over custody, support, or property that was left unresolved, pursuing a claim in court involves separate fees calculated differently from the original consensual divorce filing.

※ Costs vary depending on case complexity and specific circumstances; exact fees will be provided during consultation. No specific outcome is guaranteed.

Consensual Divorce | Self-Check Before You File

1️⃣ Are you actually eligible for a consensual divorce?

Do both spouses genuinely agree to divorce, not just one under pressure?
Can both of you appear together in person on the confirmation date?
Do you know which Family Court has jurisdiction over your address?
Have you gathered your family relation certificates and ID documents?

2️⃣ If you have a minor child

Have you agreed on who will hold parental rights and custody?
Is the child support amount and payment schedule written down clearly?
Have you agreed on a visitation schedule and handover method?
Do you understand the court will not confirm the divorce without this agreement?

3️⃣ Property division and alimony

Have you listed all marital assets, including real estate, savings, and retirement pay?
Have you addressed joint debts and who is responsible for them?
Is your property agreement written down, not just verbal?
Do you know the two-year deadline to claim property division if unresolved?

4️⃣ After confirmation

Do you know you must report the divorce within three months of confirmation?
Have you planned for name/address changes on official documents?
Do you have a plan if your ex-spouse stops following the custody or support agreement?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How long does a consensual divorce take from start to finish?

A. After filing, the court requires a waiting period of one month if there is no minor child, or three months if there is a minor child, before the confirmation date (민법 제836조의2 제2항). Including preparation of documents and the confirmation appearance itself, most cases without complications finish within one to four months.

Q. Can we get a consensual divorce if we disagree about property division?

A. Yes — the Family Court's confirmation procedure only reviews whether both spouses genuinely intend to divorce and, if there is a minor child, whether a custody agreement is in place. It does not require agreement on property division, but leaving it unresolved means you should be aware of the two-year deadline to file a property division claim (민법 제839조의2 제3항).

Q. Do we need a lawyer for a consensual divorce if we already agree on everything?

A. Legally, no lawyer is required to complete the court confirmation procedure itself. Many people still consult a lawyer to draft a clear written agreement on property and custody, since verbal or vague agreements are a common source of disputes years later.

Q. What happens if my spouse doesn't show up on the confirmation date?

A. If either spouse fails to appear on the scheduled confirmation date without a valid reason, the divorce confirmation does not go through, and you generally have to restart the process or consider mediation or litigation instead.

Q. Can we change the child support amount after the divorce is confirmed?

A. Yes, custody, visitation, and child support terms are not permanently fixed. Either parent can request the Family Court to modify these arrangements later if circumstances change significantly.

Q. What is the difference between consensual divorce and mediated or litigated divorce?

A. A consensual divorce is used when both spouses already agree to divorce and simply need court confirmation of that agreement (민법 제834조). If there is disagreement about whether to divorce, or about major terms, the case instead proceeds through mediation or a divorce lawsuit at Family Court, which takes considerably longer.

Q. Is alimony (위자료) handled during the consensual divorce process?

A. The court confirmation procedure does not review or decide alimony amounts. If the couple wants to settle alimony, it is usually addressed in a separate written agreement, or pursued afterward as a claim if one spouse believes they are entitled to it.

Q. What documents do we need to bring to Family Court?

A. Typically both spouses need their family relation certificate, resident registration documents, and the joint divorce confirmation application form, plus a custody and child support agreement if there is a minor child. Specific document requirements can vary slightly by court, so checking with the relevant Family Court in advance is advisable.

Q. Can we cancel the process after filing but before the confirmation date?

A. Yes, either spouse can withdraw the application before the confirmation date, and simply not appearing also results in the application lapsing without a divorce being confirmed.

Q. How does reporting the divorce work after confirmation?

A. Either spouse must submit the divorce confirmation certificate to the district/city office within three months of the confirmation date to complete the divorce report (민법 제836조 제1항). If a Seoul consensual divorce lawyer or local family law attorney is consulted, this step is often reviewed together with the agreement documents to make sure nothing is missing before the deadline.

Official References

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