Divorce, child custody, international parental disputes, prenuptial agreements and inheritance matters.
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If you and your spouse are from different countries, EU Regulation Rome III may determine applicable law. A family lawyer can advise on your specific situation.
Courts prioritise the child's best interests. International custody disputes may involve the Hague Convention. Always use a specialist family lawyer.
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Find My Lawyer in 60 SecondsPolish family law is codified in the Kodeks rodzinny i opiekuńczy (KRiO) (Family and Guardianship Code, Dz.U. 1964 Nr 9 poz. 59, consolidated 2024). Marriage (małżeństwo) is constitutionally protected (Konstytucja RP art. 18). Same-sex marriage and civil partnerships are not recognised under Polish law as of 2025 (though the current government has indicated intent to introduce civil unions legislation). Divorce (rozwód) is granted exclusively by Sąd Okręgowy on the basis of trwały i zupełny rozkład pożycia (complete and permanent breakdown of marriage — KRiO art. 56).
| Type | Court | Court Fee | Duration | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rozwód bez orzekania o winie (no-fault divorce) | Sąd Okręgowy | 600 PLN (shared 300 PLN if joint; refunded 150 PLN on settlement) | 3–12 months | Mutual consent to no-fault; court still hears case if children |
| Rozwód z orzekaniem o winie (fault divorce) | Sąd Okręgowy | 600 PLN | 1–3 years | Proving exclusive fault; affects maintenance obligation duration |
| Separacja (legal separation) | Sąd Okręgowy | 600 PLN | Similar to divorce | Does not dissolve marriage; prevents remarriage; property regime changes |
Child maintenance is awarded by the Sąd Rejonowy (as part of divorce proceedings in Sąd Okręgowy or separately). Polish law does not have a fixed formula — courts assess the child's justified needs and the obliged parent's earning capacity (KRiO art. 135). In practice, Warsaw courts have been awarding 800–3,000 PLN/month per child (2024–25) for middle-income families. The obliged parent's failure to pay may result in: egzekucja komornicza (bailiff enforcement); wpis do KRD (National Debtors Registry); criminal liability under KK art. 209 (uchylanie się od alimentów — up to 2 years imprisonment or 3 years if child in poverty).
| Regime | Default/Opt-in | Effect on Property | KRiO Article |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wspólność ustawowa (community of acquisitions) | Default | Property acquired during marriage is joint; pre-marital property and gifts/inheritance remain separate | art. 31 |
| Rozszerzona wspólność (extended community) | Opt-in (intercyza) | Can extend community to pre-marital property by agreement | art. 47 |
| Rozdzielność majątkowa (full separation) | Opt-in (intercyza) | Each spouse owns property independently; no joint marital estate; used for business owners | art. 47–51 |
| Rozdzielność z wyrównaniem dorobków | Opt-in | Separation during marriage; equalisation of gains on dissolution | art. 51¹ |
Karolina and Marek were married 12 years; Marek ran a sp. z o.o. during the marriage. Assets: Warsaw apartment (wspólność majątkowa, value 1.1M PLN), sp. z o.o. shares (valued by court-appointed biegły at 800,000 PLN), savings 120,000 PLN. Divorce with partial fault finding against Marek (adultery). Division of property (podział majątku): apartment to Karolina; Marek pays 1,010,000 PLN equalization payment (taking full business). Alimenty for 2 children: 2,500 PLN/month total. Duration: 26 months (contested fault and property valuation). Legal fees: Karolina 35,000 PLN; Marek 45,000 PLN (higher due to business valuation disputes).
