Family Law Archives - Page 7 of 14

April 12, 2017

Is there common law marriage in Japan?

These days the practice of couples living together and acting as if they were married, without filing a registration of marriage, has increased. This type of relationship is called a “common law marriage.” Common law marriages in Japan come with all of the same responsibilities that a “real” marriage does, including the duty to live together, help one another and remain faithful.

March 24, 2017

Is there a way to stop a spouse from forging a divorce agreement?

In order to prevent a spouse from filing a forged divorce agreement, one needs to file a Petition for Non-Acceptance of Notification of Divorce (rikon fujuri moshidesho 離婚不受理申出書). Filing this petition with the local ward office will prevent the acceptance of any divorce petitions involving the applicant.

March 3, 2017

How frequent are divorce mediation sessions in Japan?

At the end of each divorce mediation session in Japan, the mediators will work with the divorcing couple to determine the next mediation date. Usually the mediators will pick a date approximately one month in the future and then attempt to work with the couple to fix the next session around that date. Each couple will be asked separately about their schedule so it can take time to come to a final decision regarding the next session as the spouses may need to be called back and forth in order to negotiate a time that works for both spouse and […]

February 8, 2017

Is there any recourse for spouses in Japan who are facing domestic violence?

Domestic violence can take various forms, from physical abuse to mental abuse, and spouses who are victims of such abuse can feel as if there is nowhere to turn. This is especially true if that spouse is a foreign national who might not have confidence in their Japanese language ability or have worries about their immigration status. However, the Law on Prevention of Spouse Violence and Protection of Victims authorizes the Japanese government to support victims of such abuse through counseling, support and protective services.