Law does not protect love. The law protects property and kids.

A US couple, married in Canada, lived in Guangzhou working at an international school. When they decided to divorce through litigation in China, the court refused to accept the case — their marriage was registered abroad, and the authorities would not recognize it here. The wife entrusted Landing lawyers to settle it.

Our research found no PRC law prohibiting a divorce lawsuit between two foreigners married abroad — but precedents were so few that courts lacked experience. We submitted a formal Legal Opinion: (1) the couple's habitual residence was in China, where both had worked and paid tax for years; (2) returning to the US to divorce posed genuine difficulties; (3) both parties agreed to resolve the dispute under PRC law and Chinese jurisdiction. The court accepted the case, and it was resolved through mediation.