International Family Lawyer in Torrevieja
Specialist in cross-border family matters. Jurisdiction, applicable law, international child relocation and urgent child protection proceedings.
Lawyer specialising in international family law
Your case has an international dimension if any of these apply: you and your partner hold different nationalities, you live in different countries, there are assets outside Spain, there is a court order from another country you need to enforce here (or the other way around), or a child whose life spans two legal systems.
In these situations which court has jurisdiction and which law applies is the main aspect. Getting these wrong at the start is the most common reason cases collapse, deadlines are missed, and orders that cannot be enforced where they actually need to take effect.
Proceedings started in another country
When there is a risk of parallel proceedings in two jurisdictions, the first to file has a significant advantage. If you believe your spouse is about to start proceedings outside Spain, every day counts. Call before making any decision.
International child abduction
Moving a child's habitual residence to another country requires the other parent's explicit consent or a court authorisation. Without either, the relocation can constitute international child abduction. The authorisation is obtained beforehand, not after the fact.
Enforcing a foreign court order in Spain
A judgment from another country does not apply here automatically. If it comes from an EU member state, recognition is usually straightforward. If it comes from outside the EU, it will generally require an exequatur procedure. The correct route depends on the country of origin, the type of order, and the procedural stage.
Cross-border maintenance claims
European and international mechanisms exist to claim and enforce maintenance across borders. They work, but they require choosing the right channel and coordinating with the relevant central authority.
International Divorce
Mixed-nationality marriages, couples married outside Spain, spouses living in different countries. Each of these factors affects where it makes sense to file and under which law. When there is room to choose, that choice is strategic and shapes the outcome.
International child abduction
If your former partner has taken your child to another country without your consent, or is keeping them abroad beyond the agreed time, there is a specific procedure to request their immediate return.
Time works against you. Once a year has passed since the abduction, the proceedings become significantly harder to succeed with. The process runs through the relevant central authority, requires specific documentation, and involves coordination between the country of origin and the country where the child has been taken, usually in parallel to a criminal complaint.
If you are on the other side of this situation, defending yourself after a relocation, you also need specialist representation. Exceptions to the return obligation exist, but they have to be argued correctly and at the right procedural moment.
Si esta es tu situación, no esperes.
Ruth López Morueco, international family lawyer
I am registered as nº 1595 with the Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Orihuela and a member of the Asociación Española de Abogados de Familia.
I previously practised in Madrid (nº 78.344) for over eight years, litigating in courts across Spain, and I have been working in family law in Torrevieja and the Vega Baja for more than 20 years.
A significant part of my caseload since opening my own practice has involved families with an international dimension: British residents in Orihuela Costa, mixed-nationality couples, relocations between Spain and the UK, child custody arrangements and estates spanning more than one country. This is a client profile I know well, and one I handle personally from the first consultation, without passing the file to an assistant.
I advise in Spanish and in English, in person at my office or by video call.
Clients reviews
Lawyer for international family cases in Torrevieja
In cross-border family matters, the first thing to do is analyse the full situation: jurisdiction, applicable law, and deadlines before any decision is made.
In urgent cases involving child abduction, parallel foreign proceedings, blocked enforcement or similar, the first steps are what define the outcome.
You are welcome to come to my office in Torrevieja, or call me and we can talk through your situation.
Ruth López Morueco
Av. de la Asuncion, 7, local 40 Centro Comercial Filton, 03186
03186 Torrevieja (Alicante)
Any doubts?
Which court has jurisdiction when my spouse and I are from different countries?
It depends on several factors: the habitual residence of each spouse, a shared nationality if there is one, and who files first when there is a risk of parallel proceedings. In international cases, the order and location of filing can determine the entire course of the case.
Can I enforce a foreign divorce or custody order in Spain?
Yes, though the process varies. Orders from EU member states are generally recognised without major obstacles. Orders from outside the EU usually require an exequatur procedure. In both cases, the order must not be contrary to Spanish public policy.
My former partner has taken our child abroad without my consent. What do I do?
Act immediately. The 1980 Hague Convention provides for an urgent return procedure, but deadlines are critical. After one year, the case becomes considerably more difficult. The criminal complaint, the application to the central authority, and coordination with the destination country all run in parallel.
Can we work together in English?
Yes. All communication, documentation and representation can be handled in English or in Spanish, whichever works best for you.
Do I need permission to move abroad with my children?
Yes, unless you have sole custody with no specific restrictions on relocation. In shared custody arrangements or where there is an established contact schedule, taking a child abroad without the other parent's consent or a court order can constitute international child abduction. The authorisation needs to be in place before the move.
Tell me about your situation
If your matter has an international element, get in touch. The earlier we look at jurisdiction, applicable law and deadlines together, the more real options you have.
Consultation in person or via video call. I’ll reply within 24 hours.