Steps and timeline
- 11 week
First consultation
Type of marriage, where each of you lives, and what needs deciding: divorce, custody, contact, maintenance or property.
- 21 week
Check jurisdiction
Cyprus family courts hear divorce or annulment only where the parties have lived in Cyprus for at least three months, and they apply Cypriot law.
- 33 months
Notice to the bishop
For a religious marriage, notice goes to the bishop of the applicant's district, and the divorce can be filed three months later.
- 4varies
Filing
Application on form Model 1 at the family court where one or both parties live, with the marriage certificate. Custody, maintenance and property need separate applications.
- 5varies
Hearing and appeal
A single judge hears most cases; divorce petitions go to a panel of three. Appeals go to the second-instance family court.
Documents
Documents
Official forms: Form 1 (Τύπος 1) · how to fill it in, Form 3 (Τύπος 3) · how to fill it in
The exact list depends on your situation; we confirm it before filing.
Who does what
What you do
- Share your situation and goals
- Collect documents from home
- Agree the scope of work in writing
What we do
- Check the requirements for your case
- Prepare the documents and file the application
- Follow up until the decision
Your coordinator
- Plans the work and next steps
- Keeps one timeline for everything
- Reminds you of renewals and deadlines
Common mistakes
- Expecting the divorce to settle custody, maintenance and property; each needs its own application
- Filing a religious divorce without notice to the bishop and the three-month wait
- Filing before the parties have lived in Cyprus for three months
- Assuming the surname changes automatically on divorce
What affects the cost
The price depends on your situation. We explain the scope and expected costs before work begins.
Questions
Can foreigners get divorced in Cyprus?
Yes, if the parties have lived in Cyprus for at least three months. The court applies Cypriot law.
Is there legal separation in Cyprus?
No. The term 'legal separation' does not exist in Cypriot family law.
Which court handles divorce in Cyprus?
One of three Family Courts: Nicosia and Kyrenia, Limassol and Paphos, or Larnaca and Famagusta. Members of the Armenian, Maronite and Roman Catholic groups go to the Family Court for Religious Groups in Nicosia.
What are the grounds for divorce in Cyprus?
They include behaviour that makes living together intolerable, desertion or absence of over two years, a prison sentence of over seven years and change of religion.
Does a divorce decide custody and maintenance?
No. Custody, contact, spousal maintenance and property disputes need separate applications.
Which country's court decides?
It depends on residence and EU rules; the lawyer advises. Decisions from other EU countries are recognised on application to the competent family court.
Sources
- European e-Justice Portal: divorce and legal separation in Cyprus, checked 22 October 2026
- European e-Justice Portal: national specialised courts in Cyprus, checked 22 October 2026
Figures checked 22 October 2026. Rules change: we confirm them for your case before you act.