Divorce Settlement Agreements by Country: Governing Law in 32 Jurisdictions
Couples ending a marriage by agreement can record the terms — property, support, arrangements for children — in a divorce settlement, but the procedure and the governing law differ by country. This reference compares the statute for 32 jurisdictions, with a free, locally-drafted divorce settlement template for each.
Why divorce settlement law differs by country
Divorce is governed by national or sub-national family law that sets the grounds, the procedure (court, notary or administrative), and the limits within which spouses can agree their own terms. Some countries allow a fully uncontested, out-of-court divorce by agreement (notarial or administrative); others require court approval of any settlement. The division of marital property follows the local matrimonial-property regime, and arrangements for children are always subject to a best-interests review. These differences are why the template differs per jurisdiction.
Governing statute & free template by country
| Country | Primary governing statute | Free divorce settlement template |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Código Civil y Comercial de la Nación, Arts. 438–440 y Arts. 651–659 (Ley 26.994) | Convenio Regulador de Divorcio (Argentina) |
| Australia | Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) | Divorce Settlement Agreement (Australia) |
| Austria | Ehegesetz (EheG) §55a; ABGB §§94–98; Außerstreitgesetz (AußStrG) BGBl I Nr. 111/2003 | Scheidungsfolgenvereinbarung (Austria) |
| Belgium | Code civil belge art. 229 (divorce par désunion irrémédiable) ; art. 287-301 (effets du divorce) | Convention Divorce par Consentement Mutuel (Belgium) |
| Brazil | Código Civil Art. 1.574; Lei 11.441/2007 | Consensual Divorce Agreement (Brazil) |
| Canada | Provincial family-property legislation + Divorce Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp.)) | Separation Agreement — Divorce (Canada) |
| Chile | Ley de Matrimonio Civil (Ley 19.947/2004) Art. 21 | Divorce Regulatory Agreement Chile (Convenio Regulador) |
| Colombia | Ley 962 de 2005 art. 34 y Decreto 4436 de 2005 | Mutual Consent Divorce before Notario Colombia |
| Denmark | Ægteskabsloven (LBK nr 771 af 7. august 2019) | Separation or Divorce Application (Denmark) |
| France | Code civil art. 229-1 à 229-4 ; Loi n°2016-1547 du 18 novembre 2016 (DCM notarial) | Convention de Divorce par Consentement Mutuel (DCM) |
| Germany | BGB §§1408–1459 (Ehevertrag); BGB §1585c (Unterhaltsvereinbarung); BGB §§1569–1586b (Unterhalt); BGB §§1373–1390 (Zugewinnausgleich); VersAusglG (Versorgungsausgleich) | Scheidungsfolgenvereinbarung (Germany) |
| Ghana | Matrimonial Causes Act 1971 (Act 367) | Divorce Settlement Agreement (Ghana) |
| Hong Kong | Matrimonial Causes Ordinance (Cap. 179) | Divorce Agreement (Hong Kong) |
| India | Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 | Mutual Consent Divorce Agreement (India) |
| Ireland | Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 | Separation Agreement (Ireland) |
| Italy | L. 1 dicembre 1970 n. 898 art. 4; L. 6 maggio 2015 n. 55 (divorzio breve) | Accordo per Divorzio Congiunto (Italy) |
| Kenya | Marriage Act No. 4 of 2014 | Divorce Settlement Agreement (Kenya) |
| Mexico | Código Nacional de Procedimientos Civiles y Familiares art. 604; CCDF art. 266 | Voluntary Divorce Agreement Mexico (Convenio de Divorcio Voluntario) |
| Netherlands | BW artikel 1:150; BW artikel 1:155 (partneralimentatie); Wet verevening pensioenrechten 1995 | Echtscheidingsconvenant (Netherlands) |
| New Zealand | Family Proceedings Act 1980 | Separation Agreement (New Zealand) |
| Nigeria | Islamic personal law (Maliki jurisprudence) as applied by State Sharia Courts of Appeal | Talaq Divorce Notice (Nigeria) |
| Pakistan | Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961 | Union Council Divorce Notice (Pakistan) |
| Philippines | Civil Code of the Philippines (RA 386) | Muslim Divorce (Talaq) Notice (Philippines) |
| Portugal | Código Civil, artigos 1773.º, 1775.º e 1776.º (divórcio por mútuo consentimento); Decreto-Lei n.º 272/2001 (procedimento na Conservatória do Registo Civil) | Divorce by Mutual Consent Portugal |
| Quebec | Civil Code of Québec (CCQ), Book Two: Family | Divorce Agreement (Quebec) |
| Singapore | Women's Charter 1961 (Cap. 353) | Divorce Agreement (Singapore) |
| Spain | Código Civil, Article 90 | Divorce Regulatory Agreement Spain (Convenio Regulador) |
| Sweden | Äktenskapsbalken (1987:230) 5 kap. §§ 1–2 (äktenskapsskillnad och betänketid); föräldrabalken (1949:381) 6 kap. (vårdnad och umgänge) | Divorce with Consideration Period Sweden |
| Switzerland | ZGB Art. 111 | Scheidungskonvention (Switzerland) |
| United Arab Emirates | Personal Status Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 | Divorce Settlement Agreement (UAE) |
| United Kingdom | Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 | Divorce Settlement Agreement (UK) |
| United States | Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act | Divorce Settlement Agreement |
Statutes shown are the primary governing act; the specific requirements are set out on each linked country page. All 32 template links verified live on 2026-06-25.
Frequently asked questions
Can we divorce by agreement without going to court?
In several jurisdictions, yes — an uncontested divorce can be completed by notarial deed or an administrative procedure when both spouses agree and (in many places) there are no minor children in dispute. Others still require a court to approve the settlement. This table lists the governing rule for 32 jurisdictions.
What does a divorce settlement agreement cover?
Typically the division of property and debts, spousal maintenance, and the practical arrangements the spouses propose for any children. Property and maintenance terms are generally binding once approved; child arrangements remain subject to the court’s best-interests review and can be revisited.
Is the agreement binding on a court?
Property and spousal terms freely agreed with disclosure are usually upheld, but courts retain power to refuse terms that are manifestly unfair or that prejudice children. The degree of judicial scrutiny varies by country — the linked country page explains the local position.
Are these divorce settlement templates free?
Yes — a free, jurisdiction-specific divorce / settlement agreement template is available for every country listed, as PDF or Word with no signup.
About this comparison
Each entry maps a jurisdiction to its primary governing statute and to the matching free template on forms-legal.com. The data is curated from our multi-jurisdiction legal document library; the linked country pages carry the full, locally-drafted document and the current statutory detail. Templates are free to download as PDF or Word with no signup. This is reference information, not legal advice.