Family Lawyer in Poland for International Families
An English-speaking family lawyer (radca prawny) in Poland for international families — divorce, maintenance, children and property, including cross-border matters that can be handled largely on your behalf without you travelling to Poland.
Who we help
This page is for people whose family matter has a connection with Poland: foreign nationals living in Poland, couples where one spouse is Polish and the other is not, and families now living abroad who need something resolved in a Polish court or before a Polish authority. What these situations have in common is that Polish law applies to part of the matter and the case is conducted in Polish, which makes clear guidance in English valuable from the outset.
As an English-speaking family lawyer (radca prawny) based in Poznań, we act for individuals across the whole of Poland. Much of the work — advising, preparing documents and representing you in court — can be carried out remotely, so that living in another country does not prevent you from pursuing or defending a family case connected with Poland.
Divorce and separation
Divorce is the most common reason international families need a lawyer in Poland. We advise on whether a Polish court has jurisdiction, whether Polish or another country's law applies, and how the case will run from the petition to the final judgment, including the question of fault where it is raised.
Because the outcome affects children, maintenance and property at the same time, these issues should be considered together rather than in isolation. Our dedicated guidance on divorce explains the procedure in detail; this page focuses on how we act for you across the whole family matter.
Maintenance for a spouse and children
Maintenance can be claimed for a child and, in defined circumstances, between spouses after divorce. The amount depends on the justified needs of the person entitled and the earning and financial capacity of the person obliged, and it can be pursued in Poland even where one party lives abroad.
Cross-border maintenance raises additional questions of which country decides and how an order is enforced in another state. We advise on establishing, changing and enforcing maintenance, and on how European rules on maintenance affect a case connected with Poland.
Children: parental authority, residence and contact
Where parents separate, decisions must be made about parental authority, the child's place of residence and contact with the parent the child does not live with. Polish courts decide these matters according to the best interests of the child, and arrangements can range from shared care to a defined contact schedule.
For international families, the child's habitual residence and any move abroad are often central. We advise on residence and contact, on parental authority, and on the steps required where one parent wishes to relocate with a child, so that decisions are made within the correct legal framework rather than informally.
Division of marital property and marital agreements
On or after divorce, the marital property must be divided. The starting point under Polish law is usually an equal share of the joint property, but the division covers assets, debts and — where relevant — a family home and any mortgage over it. Agreements between spouses, including a marital property agreement (an "intercyza"), can change the default regime.
We advise on how the property regime applies to your situation, on negotiating or contesting a division, and on protecting your position where assets are located in more than one country. A clear picture of the assets and debts at the outset makes a fair and workable division far easier to reach.
Establishing or denying parentage
Questions of parentage — establishing or denying paternity — can arise on their own or alongside a maintenance or contact case. These proceedings follow their own rules and time limits, and the outcome affects a child's legal relationship with a parent and the related rights and obligations.
We advise parents and, where appropriate, children on how such proceedings work in Poland, on the evidence involved and on how a parentage question interacts with maintenance and parental authority.
Child abduction and relocation
Where a child is taken to or kept in Poland without the other parent's consent, or where a parent wishes to move abroad with a child, international rules — in particular the Hague Convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction — may apply. These cases move quickly and are decided on a narrow set of questions.
We act for parents on both sides of such cases and advise on the urgent steps that need to be taken. Because the timelines are short, early advice is important; our dedicated guide explains the Hague procedure, while we conduct the case itself.
Recognition of foreign family judgments
A divorce, custody or maintenance decision made in one country often needs to be recognised or enforced in another. Within the European Union many family decisions are recognised under common rules, while decisions from outside the EU may follow a separate procedure.
We advise on whether a foreign family judgment will be recognised in Poland, on the steps to have it enforced, and on the reverse situation where a Polish decision needs to take effect abroad.
Cross-border families: which country decides
When a family lives across borders, the first questions are which country's courts may hear the case and which country's law applies. These are decided by European rules and international instruments, and the answer can differ for divorce, for children and for maintenance within the same family.
Getting this right at the start matters, because the choice of forum can affect the procedure, the applicable law and how quickly a decision can be enforced. We assess jurisdiction and applicable law before a case is started, so that it is brought in the right place.
Agreements, mediation and settlements
Not every family matter has to be fought out in full. Many issues — the arrangements for children, maintenance, or the division of property — can be settled by agreement, whether reached directly, through mediation or in the course of proceedings. A settlement that is properly recorded gives both parties certainty and is usually quicker and less costly than a contested case.
We advise on what can and cannot be agreed, prepare and review settlement terms, and make sure an agreement is drawn up so that it is effective and enforceable. Where a negotiated outcome is not possible, the same preparation strengthens your position if the matter has to be decided by a court.
How we work: remote representation and consultation
Most of a family case connected with Poland can be handled without you being present. After an initial consultation — which can take place by telephone or online, in English or Polish — we can prepare the necessary documents, act on a power of attorney and represent you before the Polish court.
This is particularly useful for clients living in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Nordic countries, the United States or elsewhere, who have a family matter to resolve in Poland but cannot travel repeatedly. We keep you informed at each stage and explain what, if anything, requires your personal involvement.
How to start
To assess a family matter we usually need a short description of the situation and the key documents — for example a marriage certificate, any relevant foreign decisions, and information about the children and the assets involved. Where documents are in another language, we advise on what needs to be translated.
On that basis we can give you a clear view of the options, the likely procedure and the factors that may affect time and cost, before any commitment is made.
How an English-speaking family lawyer helps
We act across the whole of a family matter connected with Poland: divorce and separation, maintenance, children, division of property, parentage, child abduction and the recognition of foreign decisions, with attention to the cross-border questions that international families face.
The office is based in Poznań and assists clients throughout Poland, in large part remotely. You receive a clear assessment of your position and the steps that lie ahead, in English, from the first conversation onwards.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to come to Poland for a family case?
Usually not. After an initial consultation by telephone or online, much of a family matter — preparing documents, acting on a power of attorney and representing you in court — can be handled remotely. We tell you in advance if any step requires your personal presence.
Can you act if only one spouse is Polish?
Yes. Many of the international families we assist involve one Polish and one non-Polish spouse, or two foreign nationals with a connection to Poland. The first questions are which country's courts decide and which law applies, which we assess at the outset.
Which country's court decides our divorce or custody case?
That depends on where the family lives and other connecting factors, and it is decided by European rules and international instruments. The answer can differ for divorce, for children and for maintenance, so it should be assessed before a case is started.
Can a foreign divorce or custody order be used in Poland?
Often yes. Within the European Union many family decisions are recognised under common rules; decisions from outside the EU may follow a separate procedure. We advise on recognition and enforcement in either direction.
Can I get child or spousal maintenance if I live abroad?
Yes. Maintenance can be pursued in Poland even where one party lives in another country, and European rules govern which country decides and how an order is enforced abroad. We advise on establishing, changing and enforcing maintenance.
Do you offer consultations in English?
Yes. Consultations are available in English or Polish, by telephone or online. You receive advice on your position and the next steps directly, without needing an interpreter.