How do I get divorced in Czechia?
The smooth path is the agreed (uncontested) divorce — and since 1 January 2026 it is simpler still. Conditions: the marriage lasted at least 1 year, the spouses have not lived as a couple for over 6 months, and they submit agreements on the children and property (plus housing and maintenance). The family-law reform abolished the inquiry into the causes of breakdown, and custody proceedings can be merged with the divorce — one hearing is now the norm. The court fee for an agreed divorce is CZK 2,000. Without agreements you fall into a contested divorce: months to years. And mind your surname: reverting to the previous one is free only within 6 months of the judgment becoming final.
📋 The rules
- Agreed divorce: marriage ≥ 1 year, ≥ 6 months de facto separation
- Required agreements: child care, property, housing (and maintenance)
- From 1 Jan 2026: no breakdown inquiry; proceedings can be merged
- Fee: CZK 2,000 (agreed divorce)
- Reverting to a previous surname: free registry notification within 6 months
🔓 Exceptions
- Contested divorce: no agreements — the court decides children and breakdown, longer and costlier
- Hardship clause: divorce can exceptionally be denied if it would cause one spouse exceptionally serious harm
- Marriage under a year, or without the six-month separation: the agreed route is unavailable, only the contested one remains
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Not a sanction area, but the consequences bite. Agreements approved by the court are enforceable by bailiff: unpaid maintenance or an unfulfilled property settlement ends up in enforcement. Obstructing contact with the children can escalate to criminal liability. Without agreements you land in a contested divorce — the court decides both the children and the breakdown, one hearing stretches into months or years, and lawyers' fees grow with it. Deadlines run after the judgment too: reverting to your previous surname is free only within 6 months.
📎 Official sources
- Justice portal · I want a divorce (CS) →
- LGLS · Family-law changes from 1 Jan 2026 (CS) →
- Česká spořitelna · Divorce cost and duration (CS) →
❓ Frequently asked
How long does an agreed divorce take?
With complete agreements on children and property a single hearing usually suffices, because the court no longer examines the causes of breakdown. From filing it is a matter of weeks to a few months, depending on the court.
What changed in 2026?
In an agreed divorce the court no longer probes the causes of breakdown, so nobody dissects who was to blame. Custody proceedings can also be merged with the divorce, which means fewer hearings and a faster finish.
Do we need lawyers?
Not mandatory, and you can handle an agreed divorce yourselves if you draft the agreements. For property and housing, legal review pays off: once the court approves them they are enforceable and hard to change.
What does it cost?
The court fee for the agreed-divorce petition is CZK 2,000. Add an optional lawyer or notary for drafting the agreements on children and property — in a contested divorce legal costs can be several times higher.
Can I take back my maiden name?
Yes, by notifying the registry within 6 months of the judgment becoming final, entirely free. After that deadline it becomes an ordinary surname change in administrative proceedings, with a fee and a waiting period.
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