Consultation contents
Marriage
Answer
- If a foreign national marries in Japan, he or she is required to follow the laws of his or her home country as well as those of Japan.
- For information on marriage procedures, inquire at your consulate or embassy in Japan.
- A foreign national who is to marry in Japan should prepare all the documents required by the marriage laws of the home country. Such documents should be accompanied by Japanese translations.
- The marriage certificate should be submitted to the family register section of the local municipal office.
Consultation contents
Divorce
Answer
- The laws applicable to divorce vary widely according to the nationalities of the couple.
- The Japanese law stipulates, firstly, that when the nationality of the husband and wife is the same, their country's law is applied, and secondly, that when the laws of the husband's and wife's countries of origin are different, the law of the place where they reside is applied, and thirdly, that when the nationalities and the places of residence of the husband and wife are different, the law of the place most closely associated with them will be applied. However, this law has an exceptional clause, which specifies that when either the husband or the wife is a Japanese citizen permanently residing in Japan, the Japanese law will be applied.
- When the Japanese law is applicable, the husband and wife can get a divorce by consent, or, if consent is not reached, a divorce by arbitration or judgment of a domestic court, or by decision of a regional court.
- For information on divorce-related laws of a specific country, inquire at the consulate of that country in Japan.
Consultation contents
Discussions regarding divorce is not going well.
Answer
Arguments may be settled through arbitration in a family court.
- Otsu Family Court ℡ 077-503-8151
- Otsu Family Court Hikone branch ℡ 0749-22-0167
- Otsu Family Court Nagahama branch ℡ 0749-62-0240
- Kyoto Dispute Resolution Center for Domestic Relations of Foreign Nationals ℡ 075-692-3555