Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Our team provides full English support. All consultations, documents, and communications can be conducted in English. We specialize in helping expats and foreigners navigate Chilean family law.

The initial consultation is $50,000 CLP (approximately $55 USD) and lasts about 45 minutes. During this meeting, we evaluate your case and provide a detailed quote for legal services.

Yes. We offer video consultations for clients who are abroad or in other regions of Chile. This is perfect for expats living outside Santiago or those still overseas.

It depends on the type:
• Mutual consent divorce: 2-4 months (requires 1 year of separation)
• Unilateral divorce: 6-12 months (requires 3 years of separation)
• Fault-based divorce: 8-18 months (no separation required)

Yes. You can file for unilateral divorce if you've been separated for at least 3 years. You don't need your spouse's consent.

Yes. As long as your marriage is registered with the Chilean Civil Registry (or you complete this registration), you can divorce in Chile. We regularly handle these cases.

There's no fixed percentage set by law — courts consider the child's needs and the paying parent's income and resources case by case.

Legal minimum: 40% of the minimum wage per child
Legal maximum: 50% of the payer's income (all children combined)

You can homologate the Chilean court order in the debtor's country through Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, using Mercosur or Hague conventions where applicable, or file a claim directly in the debtor's country. Chile's National Registry of Support Debtors is a domestic registry — international cooperation works through these treaty mechanisms, not a global registry.

Shared custody means both parents have equal time with their children. Since the 2013 reform (Ley 20.680), both parents have equal rights and there's no automatic preference for the mother. Shared custody applies when separated parents agree to it (art. 225 Civil Code) — a judge cannot impose it without that agreement.

Not without your consent or court authorization. You can request a travel ban (prohibición de salida) to prevent unauthorized international travel. If children are taken without permission, Chile follows the Hague Convention for international child return.