Divorce in Different Countries of the World

These days divorce is becoming the norm, even in the most patriarchal countries. But even if spouses decide to part peacefully, they sometimes have to overcome a series of obstacles.

1. Indonesia: If you want freedom, plant a tree

On the island of Java in Indonesia it is customary to take care of nature. Not coincidentally, the local authorities have issued a decree that requires everyone who wants a divorce to plant five trees. By the way, trees are also planted at the time of marriage. If the wedding is the first one, one tree is enough, and if it’s the second one, three. This tradition was born in Serang (West Java) and explained quite simply: the climate there is arid and fruit trees take root pretty hard. So the local authorities decided to oblige young people wishing to start or break up a family to do good to society.

By the way, the divorce procedure itself is quite simple. It only requires the consent of both parties and that the wife is not expecting a child. There is such a thing as a conditional divorce – the spouses are given 100 days to think. During this time, it will be found out for sure if the woman is not pregnant. If they don’t change their mind, they get a divorce and the woman can marry someone else right away.

Repeated marriages are not uncommon in Indonesia. Men are even happy to marry a woman with several children. And the more the better – it means that the couple will have more helpers in their old age. Because they live in large families, there is always someone to take care of the little ones while the mother devotes her time to her husband.

2. Turkey: The Ruinous Stampede

In Turkey, a man has to support his family even after he has actually left it. Historically, this has been the case, and it is still the case today. Divorce itself is also expensive for Turkish men. You have to pay all the court fees, including the wife’s lawyer. The court almost always sides with the woman in all matters – property division, child support, or alimony for the ex-wife herself. Apparently, it takes into account that, traditionally, women are raised from birth to be married and mothers, and most of them do not have enough education to make a career, find a high-paying job, and make a living for themselves and their children.

The ex-spouse’s payments only stop if she remarries. But it is quite difficult for Turkish women to remarry – divorced women are regarded with suspicion. To avoid the divorce procedure and its ruinous consequences, men prefer not to officially dissolve the marriage, and simply move out of the family and live separately, continuing to help with money. It costs them much less.

3. UAE: talaq, talaq, talaq

A resident of the United Arab Emirates does not need to go to court for years to get a divorce. It is enough to say the word “talaq” three times, which in Arabic means: “I will divorce you”. If this fact is documented and proven, the divorce process begins, which is simply the division of property.

The procedure may take several months. As a rule, Arab men do not divorce their wives. The prenuptial agreement leaves the wife with an apartment and a decent living allowance. The rights of the wife are also stipulated there. For example, the husband’s permission for divorce (called “isma”) can be stipulated in advance in the marriage contract. In this case, the woman, like the man, can initiate the dissolution of the marriage, even if she has simply fallen out of love. In the absence of an isma, a wife is entitled to file for divorce only in the most extreme case: if the husband is imprisoned for a long period of time, is missing, cannot have children, or suffers from serious mental or venereal diseases.

4. Italy: the process is never-ending

To get a divorce, Italian spouses have a difficult road to travel. Even if both are tired of each other, have no children and no mutual claims, the divorce process can last up to four years. First, the spouses are given three years to separate, that is, to live apart. During this time, they must weigh everything up and decide whether they really want a divorce. And if there are any controversial issues (such as who the children will stay with, how to divide the property or have any other financial claims), the divorce process can even drag on for ten years or more.

5. Germany: the refrigerator behind the partition

Germans are practical people, and they are just as practical in their approach to divorce. The trial begins only after the husband and wife have lived apart for a year. It is considered that this time is given for reflection. At the same time, it is not necessary to move into separate houses. It is enough to turn joint housing into a communal apartment – to divide rooms and put a refrigerator in each half. Mandatory condition – each spouse must have its own bed. In short, you must show that the spouses do not lead an intimate life or joint household. In complicated cases, if there are many mutual claims, the divorce process can last from three to five years, but usually it ends in a year.

6. Japan: Compensation for adultery

If the Japanese people who want a divorce have no problems with each other, the whole process can take from one to several days. However, it is a costly affair – you cannot do without a lawyer, especially if you have children.

It is interesting that the court may oblige the father to pay child support, but here the penalties for non-payers are not provided. It turns out that the help of the former family – a purely voluntary. But if the reason for the divorce was adultery, the victim can get compensation for moral damage, sometimes very decent – up to $ 40 000. And the money can be recovered not only from the cheater, but also from the one with whom he cheated.

These days divorce is becoming the norm, even in the most patriarchal countries. But even if spouses decide to part peacefully, they sometimes have to overcome a series of obstacles. 1. Indonesia: If you want freedom, plant a tree On the island of Java in Indonesia it is customary to take care of nature. Not…