FAQ

November 6, 2018

Japanese and Foreign National Marriage Outside Japan

A Japanese and foreign national marriage outside Japan obviously must first obey the laws of that foreign country.  While laws and regulations regarding marriage are generally similar in most developed countries, it is important to check with local authorities to ensure that all of the correct procedures are being followed. One of the requirements for marriage in a foreign country is likely to be the submission of a “certificate of eligibility to contract marriage.”  This certificate is often required because the foreign country must confirm that the Japanese citizen is not currently married in Japan and that there is no […]
March 9, 2018

Marriage of Minors in Japan

The minimum age for marriage of minors in Japan is 18 for men and 16 for women.  However, minors, those under 20 years of age, need parental consent to marry.  The consent of only one parent is sufficient in cases where the other parent is unknown, has died or is unable to indicate intent.
January 10, 2018

Calculating child support in Japan

Calculating child support in Japan is done by comparing the total income of each of the child’s parents.  Therefore, how the total income of each parent is calculated is critical to determining how much child support will be paid.  To set an easy to use standard for determining total income, the  Japanese courts use parents’ tax returns to prove total income.  For parents who are employed by a company, the “paid amount” as shown on the tax return will be used as the parent’s total income.  For parents who are self-employed, the “taxable income” will be used as the total […]
December 25, 2017

Can a foreign couple marry in Japan?

Foreign couples that live in Japan are allowed to marry in Japan just as any ordinary Japanese citizen would be allowed to.  The foreign couple needs to register their marriage at the local government office and both parties will need to submit a certificate of legal capacity to marry along with Japanese translations.  Completing these procedures will legally marry the couple under Japanese law.