Services / Family Law
Marriage registration, divorce in all three routes, custody, unión de hecho, capitulaciones. Sabrina Candela leads this practice. A registered marriage abroad has to be recorded here before anything else moves, and we handle that first.
Ecuadorian family law is procedural: which court, which notary, which registry, which fee. We know the route for each matter and we quote the professional fee in writing before any work begins.
Even if your cédula reads 'married,' your marriage may not be registered in Ecuador. Registration sits with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the Civil Registry. Without it you cannot draft marital agreements, execute a will that references your spouse, or divorce here.
A registered unión de hecho falls under the same immigration category as marriage: same visa category, same rights, same access to the 2-year fast-track naturalization.
Notarial divorce (both spouses agree, ~40 minutes, POA works), uncontested judicial (one hearing, 6-8 months), or contested judicial (10-12 months, used when the spouse refuses, is abroad, or is uncontactable). Court and notary fees are separate.
Ecuadorian law requires a signed parenting agreement covering custody, visitation, and child support (pensión de alimentos) at or above the minimum tables before a notarial or mutual-consent divorce can proceed. Standalone custody or support proceedings quoted at intake.
Pre- or post-marital agreements that override the default sociedad conjugal 50/50 split. Useful when one spouse arrives with substantial pre-marriage assets, or when spouses want to keep property regimes separate.
When a divorce requires the marital estate to be split by the court rather than by agreement. Charged as a percentage of the estate at stake.
Family matters vary widely in complexity, so we start with a written intake rather than a boilerplate process. The five steps below apply to every matter; the timeline varies.
Two minutes of context through the intake form. We route it to Sabrina and reply within one business day, EN or ES.
Free scoping call. We confirm which route fits (notarial vs judicial, uncontested vs contested) and quote a fixed fee in writing.
You sign, we open the file. Notarial matters can proceed the same week; judicial matters get scheduled around court calendars.
For registrations: we prepare documents, translations, and the notary or registry appointment. For divorces and custody: we file with the notary or court and represent you at every hearing.
You receive originals (registered marriage certificate, divorce decree, custody order) apostilled and translated on request for use in your home country.
Answered by Sabrina Candela, ELG family lead. Cases vary; nothing here is legal advice for your specific situation.
Even if your cédula says you're married, your marriage might not actually be registered in Ecuador. Those records belong to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the Civil Registry. Without registration you cannot draft marital agreements, execute wills that reference your spouse, or divorce in Ecuador.
Government fee $53 at the Registro Civil, plus Sabrina's professional fee of $400 plus IVA (15%). All-in approximately $513.
A registered unión de hecho falls under the same immigration category as marriage. Same visa category. Same rights. Same access to the 2-year fast-track naturalization. Same treatment as a marriage to an Ecuadorian citizen. Sabrina handles the registration at $260 plus IVA.
Every non-visa matter starts with a written intake so we can pair you with the right lawyer. We reply within one business day.
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