Questions & Answers
How to file a divorce in the UAE between two expatriates married outside?
A marriage between Greek National and Indian origin was solemnized in India at Delhi marriage courts.
Living in Dubai since 2015 as she was based in Dubai and then in Nov of the year 2016, a child was born and she moved back to Greece.
Since then, she has disappeared and On 11 Oct 2018, she was granted ex-parte divorce in her home country in Cyprus on many grounds, and the document was shared by her.
As the marriage was solemnized and registered in Delhi under the Christian marriage act in India and this document was invalid to grant me a divorce.
Hence, in 2019, I filed a case in Delhi seeking divorce against the ex-parte decision received also contesting the grounds of divorce granted.
Since then, the lawyer in Delhi has sent three notices through registered post on WhatsApp asking the respondent to be present, however, no response was received.
I fought the case in the UAE and got a divorce on the above grounds.
Is it valid for submission to the Indian consulate in the UAE?
How long will the UAE courts take?
Hello,
As the marriage was between a Greek National and Indian origin, it should come under the special marriage Act.
First of all, it was ex-parte and you can challenge the same in Greece. However, since both of you reside in the UAE, you can file the divorce in the UAE - personal status court.
But you have also mentioned that marriage was not valid in India, hence, if you are thinking of maintenance, then it will never crop up due to the invalidity of marriage.
The sole point is to contest the ex-parte of the Greek court. the Indian lawyer's notification will not help, you have to file the divorce in the family court in the UAE and arrange a phone call or video conference to Greece.
If she does not reply, then you have to send the notification through the Greek embassy in the UAE.
