The Saeima of Latvia has decided to tighten the rules for notary divorce for families with children. Now all agreements on upbringing, contact, and alimony will be formalized exclusively as notarial acts—to protect children's rights and avoid court disputes.
The Saeima of Latvia, at its meeting on December 10, supported amendments to the Civil Procedure Code and the Notary Law in the final reading, which tighten the requirements for the divorce procedure at a notary for families with children.
According to the new rules, if spouses are divorcing amicably and wish to settle issues of custody, rights to contact with the child, and alimony, their agreement must be notarized. Previously, such a procedure allowed for simply presenting a written agreement; however, in practice, if one party violated the agreement, enforcing it could only be done through the court. Now the agreement will become legally enforceable without going to court.
At the same time, the division of property will still be decided by the spouses themselves—privately or with a notary, at their choice.
Chairman of the Legal Commission of the Saeima Andrei Yudin emphasized that the previous procedure often led to prolonged court disputes, wasting time and resources, while the child became involved in the parents' conflicts. Representatives of the Ministry of Justice note that the changes will prevent situations where formally existing agreements are actually impossible to enforce in an uncontested manner.
The uncontested divorce process will be conducted under the supervision of a sworn notary as a neutral party. If the notary identifies a dispute between the parties, the simplified divorce process will not be possible.
The new regulations are expected to come into force on March 1, 2026, after final approval by the Saeima.
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