I am hoping you will be able to assist with what the correct process is to seek a legal separation from my wife who is Russian. Our circumstances are the following:

- I am a Dual Citizen of Australia and USA. I am resident in Australia; ex is in New York, soon to return to Russia
- Married in St Petersburg in 2008
- Separated for 1 year and 8 months
- Have no children
- Amicable separation
- Joint asset is an apartment in joint names in Australia

I have 2 main questions:

1. how I should dissolve the marriage, whether this needs to take place in Russia, Australia and United States?

2. How to formalize the separation of assets/wealth - I wish to propose an amount (which we agreed verbally) and ensure . What is law in Russia with regards to what she is legally entitled to. Ideally I wish to do this ASAP and prior to the divorce.

Please could you also confirm your services and how you could assist in drafting a separation letter, arranging legal divorce in Russia/UK.

thanks in advance.

As we planning to have a baby, if in future we get separated/divorced what are the possibilities to child being with me? Is it possible to have a condition about future children on the prenuptial agreement?

So, the question is, what will happen if she goes to Russia?

As both Russia and United States are part to the Hague Convention, will Russia recognize the American court's provisional decision and give the kids to me? Or in practice it doesn't work that way?

I would need detailed information based on concrete info from the Russian law, because how I will act here depends completely on your answers.

Many thanks in advance :)

I am an British Citizen. I left London 12 years ago and working for an international company since, with various assignments.

I married a Russian girl in July 2012 - Catholic Ceremony - NO civil Marriage. We currently live & work now in China and will both be here on work permits shortly.

We are now expecting a baby boy in July 2013. In order for the bay boy to have my surname - we must be married (i.e Civil marriage). We are currently NOT civilly married in any country.

So, we are traveling to Moscow in March to get civil marriage. My wife is preparing the paper works. I have got a notarized letter in British confirming that I have never been married.

Could you provide some advise on British Citizen (myself) getting married to a Russian Citizen in Russia. i.e in the event of a problem what is the Divorce law in Russia; and are there any course where an application could be made within the British court system?

Hi my name is Arthur. I would like to ask you some questions, for payment, and possibly retain your services.

The facts of my case are as follows.

I am a resident of New York.

My girlfriend is a resident of St. Petersburg here on a H1B visa that is good for 2 1/2 more years she is 24.

She got pregnant and left to live with her mom in Russia She is currently 3 months pregnant.

Questions:

if she stays in Russia do I have to pay child support (I want to support the child just don't want to me taken to the cleaners)?

if she come back to NY can the child be kept here?

dose she sue for support here in NY or in Russia?

will I need an attorney in both places?

if a judgement is entered in Russia can it be enforced in NY even though I haven't seen the child

I do want joint custody, and I do want to be a part of this child life and care for him/her

I will be happy to pay for your time in answering theses questions and more.

I am an American citizen and My wife is Russian. We were married in Moscow 5 years ago. She immigrated to America. Our time together was not pleasant because she was never satisfied with anything. Even though I have a very good income, there was never enough money to satisfy her. Nothing was ever good enough. She was not affectionate and certainly not passionate in any way often refusing sexual relations with me. It is obvious that she married me for a green card, for money and for material goods.

Last October, I sent her back to home to St. Petersburg where she remains today. I had hoped that this would affect a change in her attitude but it has not. So, how do I get divorced from her in Russia? Do I have to appear in Russia? Does she have to agree to the divorce?

The only community property we have is our house in America. She took the money from our joint bank account ($20000) with her when she left. The equity in our house is about the same as the cash. So, I believe that I should get the house. She does not live here any more and it is best if she does not return. She now lives with her family in Saint Petersburg which is exactly where she was before our marriage.

We do not have children. We do not have a pre-nup agreement.

Questions for our consultation:

My wife is in Saint Petersburg & I am in New York. Do we file for divorce in Moscow? We were married in Moscow.

If she agrees to the divorce, it becomes an administrative process, right?

She won't agree because she wants a big cash settlement - above the $20000 she already took.

What happens if she does not respond?

The only community property we have is our house. Is it possible that the court would award that to me? There is about $40000 equity that all came from my earnings.

We were married only 5 years and 3 of them were terrible. About how much would court awarded monthly alimony be? For how long? She's lives with her mother - which is exactly where I found her 5 years ago.

What documents am I required to provide? I may not have our original marriage certificate but I certainly have a copy.

How quickly can you file for the divorce?

How long until it's over?

I assume that I have to appear in court - which is an expensive trip. It would be better to settle out of court (cash bonus, no alimony, I get the house).

I am afraid that if we go to court, my wife will start ranting & screaming charging me with all kinds of abuse & atrocities (that is her style & she's good at it). My fear is that I get arrested in Russia for charges my wife makes. Is that possible? I cannot count the times that she threatened to call the police or go to my office and start screaming or go to the neighbors & start screaming. This extortion technique was employed by her any time she ran out of money and demanded more. She should be in the mafia.

Dear Ms. Krasnova:

I live in Florida USA, but I travel to Moscow for business. While here last year I met a nice lady. The relationship is developing very well, and I anticipate marriage sometime in the future.

So, I was wandering about laws covering marriage in Russia. I am currently divorced and I would like to understand how to protect myself from losing what assets I have left.

Please let me know if you can help me.

Dear Karina, I saw your web site a brief of my problem, I am to marry a lady from the Ukraine, but her ex will not sign papers to take her daughter out of Ukraine unless I pay him a large sum of money I saw on your site their is a way to do it with out his consent as long as i can prove her living will be better, if you can help or tell me some one who can you would have my thanks.

Dear Karina, I have consulted a lawyer in Russia and I was told that my child and I will not be able to pass the customs control without a notarized consent of my former husband as I have a fiancé(e) visa. Is it true?

I am looking to get divorced from my wife, she is Russian and is currently living in St Petersburg, and has been for 4-5 years, we have 2 children 3 and 6 also who live with her.

The problem has been that we have a business and flats all purchased in St Petersburg using money I borrowed in United States, so have an outstanding mortgage which needs to be settled, but she refuses to sell any property in Russia.

We have 2 apartments and 1 guest house business, she lives in 1 apartment and receives rent from the other apartment They all been purchased and refurbished using money from U.S., although 1 apartment was originally a gift from her mother but was sold and renovated and then sold again and another one purchased and again money from New York sent to renovate, so I would hope I have some claim over this property also.

Is it possible to force a sale of 1 or 2 properties to repatriate some money to the U.S. to settle all the debts I have. As I don’t want my children to suffer I would want them to stay in the flat they have and continue to receive the rent from the other. Maybe the guest house could be sold and money sent back to United States so I could pay off my debt here?

How could I have access to see my children, could they be allowed to visit USA for holidays?

What would be the quickest solution to this problem. What are the costs involved, what documentation is required?

Thank you for time and consideration.