Divorce & Adultery

Judicial Divorce Lawyer

Judicial Divorce Lawyer | From grounds to final judgment, explained step by step

Summary

Judicial divorce is the process of asking a court to dissolve a marriage when one spouse refuses to consent, or when the spouses cannot agree on the terms of separation. Under Korean law, you cannot simply file a lawsuit — first mediation is generally required, and if mediation fails, the case proceeds to a formal trial (가사소송법 제2조, 제50조). The petitioner must prove one of the statutory grounds for divorce, not merely that the marriage feels over, and the court will also resolve property division, custody, and support in the same proceeding if requested.

Family Law Governing law: Civil Act & Family Litigation Act Contested Divorce Property Division & Custody

Judicial Divorce | The Six Statutory Grounds for Judicial Divorce

Korean law does not allow divorce simply because a couple has grown apart. The petitioner must establish one of six specific grounds listed in the Civil Act, and be prepared to support it with evidence (민법 제840조).

Item 1

Infidelity (Unchastity)
This covers not only sexual affairs but also conduct inconsistent with marital fidelity, such as sustained emotional affairs or repeated contact with a third party of a romantic nature. Text messages, card statements, motel records, and photographs are commonly used as evidence, and the claim can be time-barred if too much time has passed since discovery (민법 제841조).

Item 2

Malicious Desertion
This applies when a spouse abandons the marital home without justification and refuses to return, or drives the other spouse out and refuses cohabitation, support, or cooperation. The key issue is usually whether the departure was truly unjustified, since a spouse who left to escape abuse may not be found at fault.

Item 3

Extremely Bad Treatment by Spouse or Their Direct Ascendants
This covers severe verbal, physical, or psychological abuse from the spouse, or serious mistreatment by the spouse's parents that the spouse tolerates or fails to prevent. Medical records, police reports, and witness statements from family or neighbors are typically needed to establish the pattern of treatment.

Item 4

Extremely Bad Treatment of One's Own Direct Ascendants
This is the reverse situation: the spouse subjects the petitioner's own parents to severe abuse or mistreatment. As with Item 3, isolated incidents are usually not enough — courts look for a pattern of serious conduct.

Item 5

Missing for Three Years or More with Unknown Whereabouts
If a spouse has been missing and unreachable for three consecutive years or longer, the other spouse can seek judicial divorce on this ground alone. This is distinct from a declaration of death and does not require presumption that the missing spouse has died.

Item 6

Other Serious Grounds Making the Marriage Impossible to Continue
This catch-all ground covers situations such as long-term separation, a spouse's serious criminal conduct, gambling or financial irresponsibility that destroys trust, or a fundamental breakdown of the marital relationship. This is the ground most frequently argued in practice, and it is also where the dispute over who caused the breakdown (fault) becomes central.

The 'At-Fault Spouse Cannot File' Rule and Its Exception

In principle, a spouse who is primarily responsible for the breakdown of the marriage (the 'at-fault spouse') cannot file for judicial divorce based on that same breakdown. However, Korean courts have increasingly allowed divorce even where both spouses share some fault, or where the marriage is objectively unsalvageable regardless of who is more at fault — this is decided case by case based on the specific facts.

Judicial Divorce | Property Division, Custody, and Alimony Decided Alongside Divorce

A judicial divorce case rarely involves only the question of whether to divorce. In most cases the court also decides how to divide marital property, who gets custody of children, and whether alimony (damages for the divorce itself) is owed.

Property Division: What Counts and How It's Split

Property division covers assets accumulated during the marriage through the joint efforts of both spouses, including real estate, savings, retirement benefits, and even certain debts. Contribution is not measured only by income — a spouse's homemaking and childcare are also recognized as contribution. The right to claim property division is extinguished two years after the divorce becomes final, so this deadline matters even for those who divorce first and litigate property later (민법 제839조의2 제3항, 제843조).

Custody and Visitation for Minor Children

Where the couple has minor children, the court decides custody, the child-rearing party, and support based on the best interests of the child, considering factors like the child's age, each parent's caregiving capacity, and the child's own wishes if old enough to express them (민법 제837조). Visitation rights for the non-custodial parent are also set as part of the same judgment.

Alimony for the Breakdown of the Marriage

Alimony (재산상·정신상 손해배상, commonly called 위자료) may be awarded against the spouse found to be primarily at fault for the divorce, separate from property division. The amount is determined by the court considering the severity of the misconduct, the length of the marriage, and the parties' financial circumstances, rather than by a fixed formula (민법 제843조, 제806조).

Judicial Divorce | From Filing to Final Judgment

Case Review and Evidence Organization
Before filing, the facts are reviewed against the six statutory grounds, and available evidence (messages, financial records, photos, witness statements) is organized to determine which ground is realistically supportable.

Mandatory Mediation (조정전치주의)
Divorce cases must generally go through court mediation before trial. If both sides reach agreement at this stage, the case ends as a mediated divorce with the same legal effect as a judgment (가사소송법 제50조).

Formal Litigation if Mediation Fails
If mediation fails or one party does not appear, the case converts into a formal divorce lawsuit. Each side submits pleadings, evidence, and responds to the other's claims, and the court may order document production or witness examination.

Hearings and Fact-Finding
The court holds hearings to examine the grounds for divorce and any disputed issues on property division, custody, or alimony. This stage can involve financial disclosure, appraisals of real estate or business assets, and interviews related to child custody.

Judgment and Appeal
The court issues a judgment on divorce and any ancillary claims. Either party who disagrees with the outcome can appeal within the statutory period, so the case may continue to a higher court before it becomes final.

Judicial Divorce | How Fees Are Structured

Retainer Fee
Typically based on whether the case is filed only for divorce or also includes contested property division and custody claims, since the latter requires more extensive fact investigation and document review.

Success Fee
Where a monetary claim such as property division or alimony is involved, a success fee is often structured as a percentage of the amount actually secured beyond an agreed baseline, rather than a fixed sum.

Court Costs and Stamp Fees
Filing a divorce lawsuit requires paying court stamp fees and delivery costs set by statute, calculated based on the value of the property division claim if one is included.

Appraisal and Expert Fees
If real estate, business valuation, or forensic accounting is needed to establish the value of marital property, separate appraisal fees are charged by the relevant expert or institution.

Additional Costs for Related Proceedings
If provisional measures such as a request for temporary custody, asset freezing, or child support pending the lawsuit are filed alongside the divorce case, each carries its own separate cost.

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

Judicial Divorce | Self-Check Before You File

1️⃣ Do You Have Enough to Prove a Statutory Ground?

Do you have concrete evidence (messages, records, photos) rather than just a feeling that the marriage is over?
If claiming infidelity, is it within the time limit — do you know when you discovered it?
If claiming abuse or mistreatment, do you have medical records, police reports, or witness accounts?
Have you considered whether you yourself might be found primarily at fault?

2️⃣ Is Mediation Realistic Before Trial?

Is your spouse likely to appear and negotiate at a mediation session?
Are there terms (property split, custody) you would accept without going to full trial?
Do you understand that a mediated agreement has the same legal force as a judgment?

3️⃣ Are You Ready on Property and Custody?

Have you listed all marital assets, including retirement funds and debts, not just real estate?
If you have minor children, have you thought through a realistic custody and visitation arrangement?
Do you know that the property division claim expires two years after the divorce is finalized?

4️⃣ Do You Understand the Timeline and Next Steps?

Are you prepared for the case to take many months given the mandatory mediation stage?
Do you know the appeal period if you disagree with the judgment?
Have you discussed with a judicial divorce lawyer in your area whether litigation is the right route compared to negotiated divorce?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I file for judicial divorce right away if my spouse refuses to agree?

A. In principle, you must first go through court-ordered mediation before the case proceeds to a full trial (가사소송법 제50조). Only if mediation fails or is deemed unworkable does the case move into formal litigation.

Q. What if I don't have concrete evidence of my spouse's affair or misconduct?

A. Courts require actual evidence, not just suspicion, to establish grounds like infidelity or malicious desertion (민법 제840조). If direct evidence is thin, circumstantial evidence such as financial records, location data, or witness testimony may still support the claim, but this should be reviewed with a divorce lawyer before filing.

Q. Can I still get divorced if I was the one who caused the breakdown?

A. As a general rule, the spouse mainly at fault cannot rely on that fault to demand a divorce. However, courts have allowed divorce in cases involving mutual fault or where the marriage is clearly unsalvageable regardless of blame, so this depends heavily on the specific facts of your case.

Q. How long does a judicial divorce case usually take?

A. Because mediation is generally required first, and formal litigation can involve multiple hearings and fact-finding on property or custody, the process is inherently longer than an uncontested divorce. Timelines vary significantly depending on how contested the property and custody issues are.

Q. Can I claim property division even if I filed for divorce alone without addressing property?

A. Yes, but the right to claim property division expires two years after the divorce is finalized, so this needs to be filed within that window (민법 제839조의2 제3항).

Q. Will I automatically get custody if I am the mother?

A. No. Custody is decided based on the best interests of the child, looking at caregiving capacity, stability, and the child's own preference where relevant, rather than automatically favoring either parent (민법 제837조).

Q. What happens if my spouse doesn't respond to the lawsuit at all?

A. If your spouse fails to appear or respond despite proper service, the court can proceed and issue a judgment based on the evidence presented, though the specific procedure depends on how service was completed.

Q. Is alimony (위자료) the same as property division?

A. No. Alimony compensates for the harm caused by the spouse at fault for the divorce, while property division is about splitting assets accumulated during the marriage regardless of fault. They are assessed separately, even though both may be claimed in the same case (민법 제843조, 제839조의2).

Q. Can I appeal if I disagree with the judgment?

A. Yes, either party can appeal within the statutory period after the judgment is issued. If no appeal is filed within that period, the judgment becomes final.

Official References

개인정보처리방침

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