Grounds for Filing for Divorce in Puerto Rico
Aside from meeting the residency requirements, you will also be expected to provide the court with a reason for why you want to end your marriage. Some reasons a Puerto Rico court will accept include:
- Either party committed adultery.
- One party is sentenced to prison for a felony, unless that party receives a suspended sentence.
- One spouse excessively uses narcotics or consumes alcohol.
- Cruel treatment or grave injury.
- A husband abandons their wife or vice versa for a period of more than one year.
- “Absolute, perpetual, and incurable impotency occurred after marriage.”
- A husband or wife attempts to corrupt or prostitute their son(s) or daughter(s).
- A husband proposes to prostitute his wife.
- There has been a period of separation between spouses for more than two years (uninterrupted).
- One spouse suffers from incurable insanity which started after the marriage and has lasted for more than seven years.
- Mutual consent.
- Either party recognizes that irreconcilable differences exist which “caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.”
[Source: Puerto Code 31 L.P.R.A. §321].
What issues are addressed during the divorce proceedings?
Aside from dissolving your marriage, many other issues will be addressed during the divorce proceedings. For example, if you and your spouse have minor children together, you can expect the court to address custody and child support. It is always a good idea to enter into the divorce proceedings with a parenting agreement already created to prevent the court from having to make decisions regarding the wellbeing of your children for you.
Some of the other issues that are addressed in a divorce include:
- Alimony
- Property division
- Division of assets
Hiring a Reputable Puerto Rico Divorce Lawyer
Divorces are complicated matters, especially when children and assets are involved. To be sure you are aware of your rights and that you understand the process that is about to ensue, you must hire a divorce law firm in Puerto Rico prior to initiating the process. In the event you already filed for divorce or are dissatisfied with the legal counsel you retained, you can always contact USAttorneys.com and we will help you locate a qualified divorce attorney in Puerto Rico who is willing to help you with your divorce.
