Practical guides
Clear, sourced guidance to understand your steps and build your case file — evidence, statements, procedures. Documentary information, which does not replace the opinion of a legal professional.
Parent not using parenting time: recording missed visits in France
Missed visits, cancellations and late arrivals: a factual record and the limits of French contact arrangements.
Child refuses to see their father: recording words and observations in France
A child's refusal of contact, age and hearing: factual distinctions and official support under French law.
Harassing texts from an ex: preserving messages and context in France
Repeated messages from a former partner: dates, complete conversations and originals, with the limits of evidence under French law.
Change child custody in France: documenting a residence change
Agreed or disputed changes to a child's residence: comparing circumstances and preparing supporting documents under French law.
Child maintenance not paid: preparing a payment record in France
Unpaid or partly paid child maintenance: due dates, bank records and official recovery services under French law.
Child custody witness statement: template and firsthand facts in France
The French witness statement form, personal observations, relationships and required documents for a child residence case.
Main courante or complaint in France: differences and preparation
Can a French main courante be filed online? What it records, how it differs from a complaint and how to prepare a factual account.
Failure to return a child: when the other parent refuses to hand them over
What failure to return a child is, the offence under Article 227-5 of the Criminal Code, and how to enforce a contact decision: French law, official sources.
Preparing for your hearing before the family court judge (JAF)
How a hearing before the JAF unfolds, whether a lawyer is mandatory, what to bring and how to prepare for it: the essentials of French law, official sources.
Shared residence: how it is decided, how to apply for it and its effects
How shared residence (résidence alternée) is decided, how to apply for it and its effects on benefits, tax and maintenance: French law, official sources.
Parental authority: definition, exercise, disagreements and withdrawal
What parental authority (autorité parentale) is, how it is exercised jointly or alone, the difference between routine acts and important acts, the judge's role in the event of disagreement, delegation and withdrawal: the essentials of French law, official sources.
The conciliator of justice: settling a dispute amicably, free of charge
The conciliator of justice (conciliateur de justice) settles everyday disputes (neighbours, unpaid sums, tenancy, consumer matters) amicably and free of charge, before any trial: role, referral, record of agreement. The essentials, official sources.
A separated parent moving house: can you move with the child, and what can the judge do?
Moving with your child after a separation: the mandatory notice to the other parent, the powers of the family court judge, leaving the country. The essentials of French law, official sources.
Grandparents' contact rights: what the law says and how to refer the matter to the judge
The child's right to maintain relations with their grandparents (Article 371-4 of the Civil Code): parental opposition, referral to the judge, mandatory lawyer, cost. The essentials of French law, official sources.
The order for payment: recovering an unpaid debt without a trial
How the order for payment procedure (injonction de payer) works to recover an unpaid invoice, rent or debt: competent court, form, cost, opposition and time limits. The essentials of French law, official sources.
Family mediation: how it works, how much it costs, is it mandatory?
Family mediation in 2026: definition, process, cost according to the CAF scale, confidentiality and the judge's role. Is it mandatory? Documented answers, official sources.
The formal notice: definition, legal effects and how to write one
The formal notice (mise en demeure): what it is, its effects (default interest, termination of the contract), how to write it and how it fits with the amicable attempt sometimes required before the judge.
The protection order: protecting yourself from violence, urgently and without filing a complaint
The protection order (ordonnance de protection) from the family court judge: conditions, the six-day deadline, measures, twelve-month duration, free procedure. The essentials of French law updated for 2026, official sources.
Child maintenance: amount, revision and unpaid sums
Who owes child maintenance (pension alimentaire), how the amount is set and then revalued or revised, and what to do about unpaid sums (ARIPA): the essentials of French law, official sources.
The compensatory allowance: what it is for, how it is set and paid
What the compensatory allowance (prestation compensatoire) is in the event of divorce, how the judge sets it (the criteria of Article 271), its form as a lump sum or an annuity, its revision and its taxation: the essentials of French law, official sources.
The child's residence after separation: shared custody, contact rights and the judge's role
Shared residence or with one parent, contact and accommodation rights, the family court judge's criteria and moving house: the essentials of French law, official sources.
Family court application in France: forms, documents and procedure
Applying to the French family judge: legal representation, supporting documents, filing costs and keeping track of the application.
Legal aid (aide juridictionnelle): eligibility, income ceilings and how to apply
Legal aid (aide juridictionnelle) lets the State cover all or part of your legal costs (lawyer, commissaire de justice, expert assessment). Income conditions under the 2026 scale, asset ceilings, the Cerfa form and the steps to apply.
The witness statement (Article 202 CPC): rules and template
How to write a witness statement (attestation de témoin) that will be admissible in court: the mandatory particulars of Article 202 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the Cerfa form, who may testify, and the penalties for a false statement.
Building an evidence file for the family court judge
What to gather for the family court judge (JAF): admissible forms of evidence, the fairness of evidence, what the judge examines, and how to organise a clear, dated and sourced factual file.
Keeping a timeline of events: the method for a solid case file
Why and how to record facts as they occur: a dated, factual and sourced timeline is the backbone of a good file. Its value in court, a step-by-step method, a sample format and the mistakes to avoid.
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