Divorce in Cyprus

Updated: January 23, 2026

Divorce in Cyprus is the legal termination of a civil or religious marriage issued by the District Family Court. The court has jurisdiction if at least one of the spouses has been residing in Cyprus for a minimum of three months prior to filing the petition.

A divorce officially ends the marital relationship and is usually based on a serious breakdown of the marriage.

To initiate divorce proceedings, the applicant must file a divorce petition with the District Family Court. The court requires only two documents:

the marriage certificate, and
an affidavit from the applicant.

Once filed, the petition is served on the other spouse. If the case is uncontested, the divorce may be issued within approximately two months.

If the marriage was religious, the applicant must also notify the relevant religious authority (for Orthodox Christians — the bishop; for other religions — the respective religious leader).

Our divorce lawyers can file divorce petitions for civil or religious marriages conducted in Cyprus or abroad, provided that one of the spouses has lived in Cyprus for at least three months.

A key procedural requirement is knowing the home or work address of the other spouse, as the divorce documents must be officially served through a bailiff or courier. The place where the marriage took place is irrelevant.

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🪙 Cost of Divorce in Cyprus

The total cost of a divorce typically includes:

Government court fees: approximately €200
Legal fees: approximately €800 + VAT

For an uncontested divorce, where both spouses are present in Cyprus, the total cost is usually around €1,000 + VAT.

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📑 Divorce Procedure

The spouse filing the divorce is referred to as the “applicant”, while the other spouse is the “respondent.”

After the divorce petition is filed:

The court schedules the first hearing date.
The petition must be served on the respondent, who may:
- attend the hearing,
- appoint a lawyer, or
- choose not to appear.

If the respondent does not attend the first hearing, the divorce procedure moves forward quickly. The case is usually set for proof within about one week, making this the fastest route to divorce.

If the respondent appears and contests the divorce, the process becomes significantly longer.

Divorce hearings currently take place at the District Family Court of Limassol every Wednesday.

When the case proceeds by proof:

The applicant’s lawyer prepares and files an affidavit.
The affidavit is presented at the second hearing.
Provided all procedural requirements are met (including valid service of documents), the divorce is issued on the same day.
The divorce certificate is usually available within a few days.

Each divorce case may vary in complexity depending on the circumstances. Our lawyers provide full assistance and offer a free initial consultation, either in person or online.

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👩‍⚖️ Divorce in a Civil Marriage

A civil divorce is the formal dissolution of a marriage by a state authority, namely the Cypriot Family Court. It is separate from any religious dissolution.

If at least one spouse has lived in Cyprus for three months, the Family Court has jurisdiction, regardless of where the marriage took place.

Civil divorces — especially when uncontested—are among the simplest procedures. Only the marriage certificate and the applicant’s affidavit are required.

In cases where both spouses agree, a civil divorce can be completed in approximately 1–1.5 months, depending on the circumstances.

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📜 Legal Grounds for Divorce

A divorce may be granted on the basis of a serious breakdown of the marital relationship, applicable to both spouses.

If fault is alleged, the applicant may rely on one or more of the following grounds:

Adultery
Repeated abusive or offensive behaviour making cohabitation intolerable
Physical violence against the spouse or children
Separation for two years (short reconciliation attempts of up to three months are disregarded)
Unjustified desertion for two years

📖 Legal Consequences of Divorce

Following the issuance of a divorce certificate, an ex-spouse may be entitled to maintenance if unable to support themselves and if one of the following applies:

Age or health prevents suitable employment
Custody of a minor child or a dependent person with a disability
Temporary inability to secure employment or need for professional training (for up to three years)

If there are minor children, additional court applications must be filed separately for:

child maintenance, and
custody arrangements.

Division of Property and Financial Claims

If the spouses acquired property or increased their assets during the marriage (or in preparation for marriage), and no agreement exists, a separate court petition must be filed.

Under Cyprus law, if one spouse’s property increased during marriage and the other spouse contributed in any way, the contributing spouse may claim their share of the increase through court proceedings—even prior to the divorce being finalised.

Divorce by Consent

Cyprus law does not formally recognise divorce by mutual consent, divorce agreements, or pre-nuptial agreements.

However, following legal developments in 2023, consent now simplifies the procedure. If both parties agree to divorce:

The petition is filed on the basis of irretrievable breakdown.
If the respondent does not appear at the first hearing, the divorce is issued shortly thereafter.

All matters concerning children must be settled by court order before filing, and a copy of that order must be submitted to the Family Court.

A divorce based on breakdown or consent may only be filed six months after the marriage.

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💒 Church Procedure Prior to Divorce

Where a church wedding has taken place, a church procedure must precede the civil divorce.

The procedure is as follows:

Online notification to the bishop of the applicant’s area: https://pnevmatikilysi.cy.net/
Invitation to a conciliation meeting.
If reconciliation fails or does not occur, divorce proceedings may begin after six weeks.
Once the Family Court issues the divorce, the bishop is notified and must issue the religious dissolution within two weeks.

The same process applies to other religions via the relevant religious authority.

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💻 Online Divorce in Cyprus

Although the divorce procedure itself cannot be completed fully online, lawyers may act on your instructions via email or video calls.

A divorce can be initiated if:

one spouse has lived in Cyprus for at least three months, and
the applicant knows the spouse’s address and contact details for service of documents.

When these requirements are met, a Cyprus divorce is internationally valid, regardless of the applicant’s location.

Our firm provides specialised legal advice in family law matters. Please contact us for further information or assistance.