The fastest way to divorce in the Netherlands is a joint petition (gemeenschappelijk verzoek) with all arrangements agreed in advance; that route can take as little as six weeks. If one of you files alone, the other spouse has six weeks to respond, and a contested divorce usually takes months, sometimes more than a year.
Dutch law has one ground for divorce: the marriage has broken down irretrievably (duurzame ontwrichting), under Article 1:151 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW). There is no waiting period and no need to prove fault. When you file together, the court does not ask for proof of the breakdown (Article 1:154 BW).
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How do a joint and a one-sided petition differ in speed?
A joint petition is usually decided on the papers within weeks. A one-sided petition (eenzijdig verzoek) must first be served on your spouse by a bailiff, who then has six weeks to file a defence.
With a joint petition you submit one document, usually prepared by one lawyer or mediator for both of you. If you have minor children and the parenting plan or the conversation with the children calls for it, the court will still hold a hearing. With a one-sided petition a hearing is more likely, and every point you disagree on adds time.
What should you agree before you file?
Agree on the children, the house, pensions and maintenance first. These four subjects cause most of the delay, not the divorce itself.
If you have minor children, a parenting plan (ouderschapsplan) must be filed with the petition. It sets out how you divide care, how you take decisions, how you communicate and what each of you contributes to the costs. It is sensible to agree on maintenance for children aged 18 to 21 at the same time.
The financial arrangements go into a divorce covenant (echtscheidingsconvenant). Gather the financial information once, at the start: bank statements, the mortgage deed, the WOZ value of the house and the pension overviews from mijnpensioenoverzicht.nl.
When does one lawyer or mediator for both of you make sense?
One lawyer or mediator for both of you is the shortest route, provided there is a workable balance between you. One professional gathers the information, drafts one covenant and one parenting plan, and files one petition.
It is not suitable where there has been abuse, where one of you lacks a clear picture of the finances, or where trust has broken down so far that agreement is unrealistic. Then each of you needs your own lawyer, and the extra weeks are well spent.
How do you keep conflict from slowing things down?
Focus on the practical questions the court must answer. Under Article 1:151 BW the court does not decide who is to blame, so arguments about fault add cost without changing the outcome.
The court looks at where the children will live, what maintenance is payable and how the assets and pensions are divided. Where communication is difficult, mediation is usually faster than litigation. A partial agreement narrows what the court still has to decide.
What happens after the court’s decision?
Your divorce is only final once the decision is registered in the register of civil status (registers van de burgerlijke stand). Under Article 1:163 BW that registration must take place within six months, or the decision loses its effect and you have to start again.
Normally you wait for the three-month appeal period to end before registering. If neither of you intends to appeal, you can each sign a declaration of acquiescence (akte van berusting), and the decision can be registered straight away.
What should you check before you file?
Most delay comes from missing documents and open questions, not from the court.
- Decide on a joint or one-sided petition at the outset.
- Draft the parenting plan if you have children under eighteen.
- Collect bank statements, the mortgage deed, the WOZ value and pension overviews.
- Ask the mortgage lender whether one of you can take over the loan.
- Agree spousal and child maintenance, including for children aged 18 to 21.
- Plan the registration of the decision within six months, with a declaration of acquiescence if possible.
What can we do for you with a quick divorce?
Our divorce work is explained on our divorce lawyer page. We can act as joint counsel for both of you or advise one of you:
- We draft the joint petition, the divorce covenant and the parenting plan.
- We list the financial information you need in the first meeting.
- We calculate child and spousal maintenance.
- We draft the declarations of acquiescence and arrange registration within six months.
Summary
- The only ground for divorce is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably; fault plays no role.
- A joint petition with everything agreed is the fastest route and can take around six weeks.
- With a one-sided petition, your spouse has six weeks to respond, and a contested divorce takes months.
- A parenting plan is compulsory if you have minor children.
- Register the decision within six months; a declaration of acquiescence lets you do so without waiting for the appeal period.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can a divorce be completed?
If everything is agreed and you file a joint petition with a covenant and, where required, a parenting plan, around six weeks is realistic. A contested divorce generally takes months, and longer where valuations or expert evidence are needed.
Do we both have to agree to divorce?
No. One spouse can petition alone, and the other’s refusal does not prevent the court from granting the divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown.
Can we use the same lawyer?
Yes, if you file a joint petition and there is no conflict of interest. That is the fastest and least expensive route.
Is a parenting plan really compulsory?
Yes, if you have minor children. The court expects it with the petition, and a missing plan delays the procedure.
