European Union: Family Law

Cyprus probate proceedings often involve international elements, requiring careful navigation of cross-border succession laws, foreign wills, and property transfers. Understanding which law applies to an estate, how to handle foreign grants of probate, and the proper procedures for administering Cyprus assets owned by foreign nationals is essential for executors and beneficiaries dealing with international estates.

Malta's 2026 reforms replace the traditional guardianship framework with a modern system of personal autonomy safeguards and support persons. How does this legislative transformation balance the protection of vulnerable adults with respect for individual autonomy, and what mechanisms ensure that support arrangements remain proportionate to each person's circumstances?

Malta has introduced a comprehensive statutory framework specifically designed to protect adults who cannot safeguard themselves from harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation due to disability or the effects of ageing. The Protection of Adults in Situations of Vulnerability Act establishes dedicated institutions, investigative powers and protective measures while seeking to balance appropriate protection with respect for individual dignity and autonomy.

In cases of cross-border parental responsibility, borders do not merely divide States but also lives. Where different legal systems and perceptions of the child’s best interests intersect, jurisdiction emerges as the modern “apple of discord.”

The Court of Appeal of Cyprus issued a landmark judgment clarifying critical principles regarding child maintenance following parental separation. The decision addresses contentious issues including the allocation...

Those dealing with cross-border family law matters in Cyprus—whether they concern issues of jurisdiction, child abduction, or divorce, maintenance and parental responsibility applications with an international dimension—are quite understandably likely to feel anxious during a volatile and transitional period of their lives, in which they must navigate a complex legal framework that requires specialized knowledge of both international family law and national legislation.

The Dutch government has decided not to proceed with the proposed amendments to ease the business succession facilities (BOR).

Joint custody and alternating residence are modern forms for regulating parental responsibility, bringing significant legal and social issues to the forefront.

Cyprus allows foreign nationals married to Cypriot citizens to obtain citizenship through a straightforward registration process.