[France24440]

Hi
When my partner married a Frenchwoman he did so twice (he must have been besotted): first in France, then in the UK. He and his wife divorced years ago in the UK, but we have always understood that only the French national can instigate a divorce in France in the case of a mixed marriage. Is this really still so? Thanks.

 

[Bevdeforges]

As far as I know, that's certainly not the case now - not sure if it ever was, or when, if it was.

If, however, your partner was married in France, he needs to find out if his UK divorce was registered here in France - particularly on the birth record of the French woman he was married to. Notice of the divorce should have been reported to the French consulate in the UK and acted upon from there. The fact of the divorce should then have been noted in the livret de famille (which, no doubt, his ex probably has).

Time to dig out the divorce paperwork and perhaps consult a French solicitor to see what can and should be done at this point. (Or at least determine if the divorce was ever reported here in France.)
Cheers,
Bev