Family Law Attorneys in Poznań – Divorce, Custody & More
Looking for a family law attorney in Poznań? We are a team of lawyers specialising exclusively in family law — divorce, child custody, maintenance, division of marital property and more. We work with Polish and international clients across Poznań, Września, Jarocin and Kalisz, and offer remote consultations for clients based anywhere in Poland or abroad.
Tel.: +48 531 335 713 | kancelaria@prawnikodrozwodu.pl
Who We Are
Our team consists of four lawyers — Marta Krzyżanowicz, Anna Konrady, Joanna Jędrzejewska and Michalina Koligot — all of whom focus exclusively on family law. This is not one of several practice areas for us. It is the only thing we do, and we do it every day.
The family courts of Poznań are our everyday working environment. The Regional Court (Sąd Okręgowy), the District Courts of Poznań-Stare Miasto, Poznań-Nowe Miasto and Wilda, and Poznań-Grunwald and Jeżyce — we know local procedures, local judges and the specifics of local case law. That knowledge translates into a concrete advantage for our clients.
Our team combines attorneys (adwokaci) and legal counsels (radcowie prawni) — both are fully qualified lawyers entitled to represent clients in Polish courts. When you entrust us with your case, it does not go to a single person. Your situation is handled by the whole team. If your lead lawyer cannot appear at a hearing, another team member who knows your case equally well will be there in their place. You are never left without representation.
We are also bound by strict professional secrecy. Everything you tell us stays between us — always.
How We Work
Tolstoy wrote that every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. In family law, that is not a literary metaphor — it is a description of reality. No two divorce cases are the same. No two custody disputes unfold in the same way. There is no single right strategy that fits every situation.
That is why every first meeting begins with listening, not talking. We want to understand what you need, what you are afraid of and how you imagine the outcome of your case. Only then do we present options. We never impose a decision — the last word is always yours.
We also understand that family law proceedings are emotionally exhausting. Divorce hearings bring back everything that went wrong and led the spouses before a judge. We make every effort to ensure that the entire process — from the first conversation to the final judgment — is as manageable and as painless as possible. Many clients tell us after their first meeting: “You’ve put my mind at ease.” That is the best feedback we could receive.
How We Can Help — Our Areas of Practice
Divorce
We handle all types of divorce proceedings before the Regional Court in Poznań (Sąd Okręgowy w Poznaniu). This includes uncontested divorce — where both parties agree and no fault finding is sought — and contested divorce with a fault finding, where one or both spouses are found responsible for the breakdown of the marriage.
A fault finding has real financial consequences in Polish law — it affects the right to claim spousal maintenance and can be relevant to the division of marital property. We advise on whether pursuing a fault finding makes practical sense in your specific situation, and we prepare the case accordingly.
If your spouse is contesting the divorce or refuses to cooperate, we can still pursue proceedings on your behalf. Polish law allows a court to grant a divorce even without the other spouse’s consent, provided the marriage has irretrievably broken down.
We also assist with all ancillary matters decided alongside a divorce — child custody arrangements, contact schedules, child maintenance, spousal maintenance, use of the family home and division of marital assets.
Legal Separation
Legal separation (separacja) is an alternative to divorce for couples who wish to formally regulate their situation without dissolving the marriage. It produces many of the same legal effects as divorce — it ends the marital property regime, resolves questions of child custody and maintenance, and excludes mutual inheritance — but the marriage itself remains legally intact.
We assist with both consensual separation proceedings (a simplified procedure available where both parties agree and have no minor children) and contested separation cases.
Child Maintenance and Spousal Maintenance
Polish law places an obligation on both parents to financially support their children, regardless of who the child lives with. Maintenance (alimenty) is calculated on the basis of the child’s reasonable needs and the financial capacity of the paying parent — not a fixed formula.
We assist with establishing maintenance for the first time, applying to increase or reduce an existing maintenance order when circumstances have changed, and enforcing payment when the other parent fails to pay. We also handle claims for spousal maintenance following divorce or separation.
Where urgent financial support is needed, we apply for interim maintenance orders (zabezpieczenie alimentów) — which can be obtained within weeks, before the main proceedings conclude.
Division of Marital Property
In Polish law, spouses who have not entered into a prenuptial agreement acquire assets jointly during the marriage — this is known as marital community of property (wspólność majątkowa). On divorce or separation, this joint estate must be divided.
The default rule is a 50/50 split, though the court may depart from this in certain circumstances — for example where one spouse contributed disproportionately to the acquisition of assets, or where one spouse dissipated or concealed marital assets.
Division of marital property is often the most complex part of the entire process, particularly where the estate includes real estate, a business, shares in a company or assets held abroad. We advise on the full scope of what qualifies as marital property, identify claims arising from contributions made from personal assets, and represent clients in both negotiated and court-ordered division proceedings.
Parental Authority and Child Custody
Polish law distinguishes between parental authority (władza rodzicielska) — the right and obligation to raise and make decisions for a child — and physical residence. Both are determined by the court when parents separate.
In most cases, courts prefer to preserve full parental authority for both parents, provided they are able to cooperate on matters affecting the child. Where cooperation is not possible, the court may vest authority in one parent while limiting the other’s role to specific decisions.
We assist with establishing, limiting and restoring parental authority, preparing parenting plans (porozumienie rodzicielskie), and representing clients in contested custody proceedings. We also advise on shared custody (opieka naprzemienna) arrangements, where the child lives alternately with each parent.
Child Contact and Visitation
Every child has the right to maintain a relationship with both parents, regardless of who they live with. We assist with establishing contact schedules, modifying existing arrangements when circumstances change, and enforcing contact orders when the other parent obstructs or prevents agreed visits.
If contact is being withheld, Polish courts can impose financial penalties for each breach of a contact order. We advise on how to document violations and how to use the enforcement mechanisms available under Polish procedural law.
Prenuptial and Marital Property Agreements
Polish law allows spouses and prospective spouses to modify the default marital property regime by entering into a written agreement before a notary. The most common arrangement is full separation of property (rozdzielność majątkowa), under which each spouse retains ownership of everything they acquire during the marriage.
Other options include extended community of property (where assets that would normally be personal are brought into the joint estate), limited community, and separation of property with equalisation of gains — a model that protects a spouse who sacrifices their career for the family, by entitling them to a share of the other spouse’s accumulated wealth on divorce.
We advise on which model best suits your circumstances and prepare the groundwork for your visit to the notary.
Paternity — Establishment and Denial
We handle cases to establish paternity where a biological father is unwilling to acknowledge a child, and cases to challenge paternity where a man registered as a child’s father is not the biological parent. Both types of proceedings are subject to strict time limits under Polish law — missing these deadlines can permanently bar a claim. We advise on the applicable deadlines and manage the entire process, including DNA testing.
Adoption
We assist prospective adoptive parents throughout the adoption process in Poland — from the initial stages with an adoption centre (ośrodek adopcyjny) through to the court proceedings and registration of the new birth certificate. We also advise on international adoption proceedings governed by the 1993 Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.
Domestic Violence
Where a client or their children are at risk, we act as a priority. Polish law provides rapid civil remedies — including orders requiring the abusive spouse to vacate the family home and restraining orders prohibiting contact — which can be obtained without prior notice to the other party. We coordinate civil and criminal proceedings and advise on how to document evidence of abuse effectively.
Legal Incapacitation
We represent applicants in proceedings to have a person declared legally incapacitated (ubezwłasnowolnienie) — either fully or partially — where that person is unable to manage their own affairs due to mental illness, intellectual disability, addiction or other conditions. We also represent persons facing such proceedings who wish to challenge the application. Where possible, we explore less intrusive alternatives, such as power of attorney or court-appointed assistance.
Juvenile Criminal Liability
Where a minor has come into conflict with the law, proceedings are heard before the family court (sąd rodzinny) under the Act on the Support and Rehabilitation of Juveniles. The focus is on rehabilitation rather than punishment. We represent minors and their parents throughout these proceedings, advise on the range of measures available and prepare the defence strategy.
Divorce Involving a Ukrainian Citizen
We have specific experience in cross-border family matters involving Ukrainian and Polish nationals — a growing area of practice since 2022. We advise on jurisdiction, applicable law under the 1993 Polish-Ukrainian Treaty on Legal Assistance, and recognition of Ukrainian court judgments in Poland. We also handle cases under Ukrainian family law for clients requiring assistance with proceedings in Ukraine.
Your First Consultation — What to Expect
A consultation costs 400 PLN and lasts 60–90 minutes. We will listen to your story, ask the right questions and tell you plainly where you stand and what your options are — including realistic timeframes and estimated costs. You will leave with a concrete plan of action.
If you decide to work with us, the consultation fee is credited towards our overall fee. Payment by instalments is available.
It helps to bring any relevant documents — marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates, documents relating to assets, any existing court orders or agreements. If you do not have everything, bring what you have. We will tell you what else is needed.
We offer consultations in person at our Poznań office, and remotely by video call, telephone or email — at the same rate. Most of the preparatory work — case analysis, drafting documents, advising on strategy — can be done entirely remotely. Physical attendance at court hearings requires the lawyer to be present in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer for a divorce in Poland? You can represent yourself. In practice, cases handled by a lawyer conclude faster and with better outcomes — particularly where the other spouse has their own legal representation, or where the proceedings involve children, significant assets or a fault finding.
How long does a divorce take in Poland? An uncontested divorce without a fault finding typically concludes within three to six months of filing. A contested divorce with a fault finding may take one to three years or more, depending on the level of conflict and the volume of evidence. Where child custody is disputed and no parenting agreement is reached, proceedings can take longer still.
Can foreign nationals use your services? Yes. We regularly advise non-Polish clients — including Ukrainian, British, German and other foreign nationals — on Polish family law matters. Consultations can be conducted in English. For matters involving Ukrainian law, we also advise on the applicable Ukrainian legal framework.
How much does full representation cost? Our fee depends on the scope and complexity of the case and is agreed individually at the consultation stage. The court filing fee for a divorce petition in Poland is 600 PLN, payable to the court separately from our professional fee. We always discuss costs openly before entering into any agreement.
Can I consult you if I am not based in Poznań or in Poland? Yes — we offer full remote consultations and can handle most preparatory and advisory work by video call, telephone or email. For clients based abroad who need representation before a Polish court, we coordinate the process so that your personal attendance in Poland is required as infrequently as possible.
Where We Work
Poznań — main office
ul. Mickiewicza 18a/3, 60-834 Poznań
Tel.: +48 531 335 713 kancelaria@prawnikodrozwodu.pl prawnikodrozwodu.pl
Września — branch office
ul. Sienkiewicza 2 lok. 1, 62-302 Września
Tel.: +48 531 335 713 prawnik@kancelariawrzesnia.pl
Jarocin — branch office
al. Niepodległości 6, 63-200 Jarocin
Tel.: +48 575 641 021 adwokat@kancelariajarocin.pl
This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Polish family law differs significantly from the legal systems of other countries. If you are based outside Poland, we recommend contacting us directly to discuss your specific situation before drawing any conclusions from the information above.