Divorce and family matters
Divorce and family concerns in Hiroshima: what foreign residents should prepare
Key points
For divorce and family matters, organize your relationship with your spouse, matters concerning children, and living expenses separately. Also state whether you are living apart and whether you are worried about your status of residence.
This article provides general information for preparing to speak with a lawyer. It is not a legal assessment of an individual case and does not guarantee any outcome. The available procedures and their effects depend on the circumstances.
Lawyer: Ryo Kondo · Member of the Hiroshima Bar Association
Registration No. 68207
Updated:
Organize your family situation and current living arrangements
Record your spouse's name, whether you are living together or separately, whether you have children, and who currently pays the household expenses.
If you do not want your spouse or family to know that you are seeking advice, state at the outset which method of contact is safe for you.
Keep documents and messages
Keep documents concerning the marriage, housing, living expenses and children, as well as messages exchanged with your spouse. Do not delete or alter the original records.
Even if you do not understand a Japanese document, keep it in a form that can be shared as a clear photograph or PDF.
Mention any concern about your status of residence
If separation or divorce makes you worried about your status of residence, include that concern when explaining the family matter.
For an application concerning status of residence, we may introduce a specialist we work with. We can still organize concerns that arise in connection with the family matter.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Questions about this legal issue
What should I prepare if children or living expenses are involved?
Record the children's names and ages, their current living arrangements, school or childcare situation, and who pays which living expenses. The appropriate procedure and likely effect must be assessed from the individual circumstances.
Should I keep messages exchanged with my spouse?
Keep the original messages, documents, photographs, and payment records without editing them. If you make a separate summary, distinguish it from the original record.
Will divorce affect my status of residence?
The effect depends on the status you currently hold and your individual circumstances. State your current status and expiry date. For an application concerning status of residence, we may introduce a specialist we work with.
Questions about consulting or retaining Ryo Kondo
Does sending the online intake form mean that Ryo Kondo has agreed to represent me?
No. The online intake form is an initial way for the lawyer to review your situation. Submitting it does not mean that the lawyer has accepted the matter or that a lawyer-client relationship has begun.
Will the information I share be kept confidential?
Lawyers have a legal duty to protect confidential information learned through their work. The handling of information submitted through the website is also described in the privacy policy.
How much does a legal consultation cost?
Submitting the online intake form is free. A legal consultation costs JPY 6,600 for 30 minutes. Fees and the proposed next steps for handling your case will be explained before you formally retain the lawyer. Interpreter fees have not yet been determined.
Can I attend a meeting if I am not confident using Japanese?
If you would like to communicate in a language other than Japanese, we will confirm the available options individually. The lawyer will review the facts with you and provide legal explanations and assessments.
Official information
Official information
Check online intake status
When online intake is open, the form asks what happened, who is involved, and whether there is a deadline. The intake page shows its current status.
Check online intake status