China-California Divorce Attorneys in Los Angeles

Divorce, custody, and support across Mainland China and California

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Divorce is complicated enough when you live in one place. When your marriage, children, and assets span two countries, the complexity multiplies.

Provinziano & Associates is an international family law firm in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, specializing in China-California divorce, custody, support, and property division for spouses and parents throughout California and Mainland China.

Our founder, Alphonse Provinziano, is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Together, our team has handled more than 3,000 family law cases, including cross-border divorce, contested custody, support, property division, and enforcement in both directions between the two jurisdictions. Where needed, we coordinate with trusted counsel in Mainland China.

Who We Help

Our clients live and own property on both sides of the Pacific, with family, business, and legal ties in both California and Mainland China.

Common situations we see include:

  • Chinese nationals living in California who need divorce, custody, property, or support orders here with assets in China
  • Californians who married in Mainland China and are now separating, with apartments, savings, or business interests in Mainland China, and in some cases, Hong Kong or Taiwan.
  • Parents whose children live or spend significant time between California and China, and who now face disputes over where the child will live, go to school, and travel
  • Couples who signed a Chinese marital property agreement, or whose families bought property in China for them, and who need to know what that means in a California community property case

We also assist clients with connections to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and other Asia-Pacific jurisdictions where there are cultural or financial ties to Chinese business networks alongside California residence or citizenship.

Get Advice Before Taking the Next Step If:

  • Either spouse could file first in China or California (jurisdiction affects everything)
  • A child may travel, relocate, change schools, or stay in China or California longer than planned
  • You have real estate, income, investments, or a business in either jurisdiction
  • You already have a Chinese or California order that needs recognition or enforcement in the other country
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What Chinese and Mandarin-Speaking Clients Should Know

There is no simple registration-style divorce in California. Every divorce goes through the court, even when both spouses are prepared to cooperate on terms.

Chinese marriage contracts and judgments will be considered, but they do not control the California case. They still have to fit California rules on fairness and public policy, and some parts may not be followed.

Be prepared for how large or long-lasting child and spousal support orders can be in California, especially when U.S. income and living costs are taken into account. Long-term spousal support can continue for many years, which is often very different from the shorter or lump-sum arrangements in China.

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We Speak Your Language

International family matters often cross language lines.

Our attorneys primarily work in English, but we offer support in French, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Farsi, and Russian.

If you prefer to communicate in another language, contact us and we’ll confirm what’s available for your situation.

How Our China-California Divorce Lawyers Work With You

Our Los Angeles team protects your interests across every aspect of China-California family breakdowns.

Whether you need to protect hard-earned assets and reputation or secure your relationship with your children, we build a cross-border strategy that accounts for your priorities in both legal systems.

Jurisdiction and Where to Begin

In cross-border cases between China and California, one or both courts may have a say.

We explain how each court is likely to treat your assets, marriage, and children, then we help you decide where to file first, what steps to take in the other country, and how to time everything so orders from one court don’t undermine you in the other.

Divorce and Separation With Ties to China

We represent clients going through divorce, legal separation, and related family law cases between China and California.

We manage everything from filing court paperwork and serving documents overseas to securing short-term orders for support or access to funds. We also guide the case toward resolution, whether through negotiation, mediation, or trial if necessary.

International Region

Spousal Support (Alimony) and Maintenance

We often represent clients who spent years focusing on family and now need real financial support to get back on their feet, whether through temporary orders during the case, long-term support after divorce, or modification of existing support when circumstances change.

We also represent high earners and business owners defending against support demands that must be balanced against realistic income, tax, and cash flow in both countries.

International Region

Children, Parenting, and Moves Between China and California

Flights between California and Mainland China can turn everyday parenting issues into high-stakes questions about passports, return dates, and where a child will really grow up.

China and California Child Custody — We represent parents at every stage of a custody case, from emergency and temporary orders to long-term custody arrangements. When you need to establish, challenge, or modify custody, we focus on your child’s stability and your role in their life.

International child abduction and the Hague Convention — If a child has been taken or kept abroad without agreement or in breach of orders, we act for both left-behind parents asking for the child’s return and parents who are facing return demands or accusations of abduction.

Relocation and international moves — We represent both parents seeking to relocate and parents opposing a move, helping the court understand the practical impact on the child.

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Marital Property, Business Interests, and Cross-Border Wealth

Sometimes the hardest part of a case is not the divorce itself, but what happens to the assets built over years of work.

For clients who have built significant wealth, we work to make sure any division reflects real contributions and risks, not inflated claims. For clients with less control over money, we focus on having their contributions recognised and securing a fair share.

Enforcing Orders Between China and California

Winning an order is only half the story. The real question is whether that order can be made to work where it is intended to.

Provinzino & Associates will review your existing judgments, agreements, and notarial deeds, then give you a clear view of what can realistically be enforced, which parts need extra steps before a court will act on them, and which issues California may require you to go through again.

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Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

In many China-connected marriages, planning ahead becomes especially important when there is business ownership, family-funded property, or financial support from relatives.

We work with couples who are about to marry or already married to put in place marriage contracts and financial agreements that make sense under California law and, as far as possible, under the laws of Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan.

If you have already signed an agreement with a Chinese notary or lawyer, we can review it with you and explain how a California court is likely to treat it.

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Mandarin-Speaking Legal Team and East Asia Partners

Legal problems are hard enough without having to translate your feelings and worries into a second language. You can speak to us in Mandarin: some of our attorneys and staff are native Chinese speakers who understand how family, money, and reputation work in China.

We also work closely with lawyers and other professionals in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Singapore.

That teamwork helps us keep court steps and deadlines aligned on both sides and gives you a clear, realistic picture of what each legal system can and cannot do for you.

Here’s How Our China-California Family Law Firm Works With You

We start with a confidential, encrypted video meeting, scheduled around your time zone so you can speak with us from wherever you are now.

Schedule a private case evaluation

You share what is happening in your family, and how you would like life to look once the case is behind you.

After you hire us: Get a tailored legal plan

Once you decide to work with us, we look at the full picture: where you and your spouse live, your marriage details, your main assets, your children’s situation, and any existing court orders. From there, we build a step-by-step plan that fits your priorities.

Resolution through settlement or trial

Some cases resolve through agreements, mediation, or settlement; others require going to court. We are ready for either route.
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The Provinziano & Associates Difference

Why Clients Choose Our Firm for China-California Divorce

Strategic Collaboration Network of Cross-Border Wealth Professionals

High-net-worth China-California cases involve Chinese apartments, U.S. real estate, shareholdings in listed or pre-IPO companies, family businesses, and RMB- or dollar-based investments. We work with wealth managers, tax advisers, valuation experts, and estate-planning lawyers in both China and California. This ensures decisions about property division, liquidity, and future planning are based on accurate valuations, not estimates.

Built for High-Asset Divorce and Cross-Border Enforcement

We regularly handle portfolios that include Chinese property, family businesses, holding structures, as well as U.S. companies, pensions, real estate, and investments in both countries. From valuing a property in Shanghai to dividing stock options in a Silicon Valley startup, we plan from the start for enforceability in both legal systems, ensuring that the outcome works in practice, not just on paper.

Discreet Representation for High-Profile International Clients

Many of our clients are business owners, professionals, and public figures whose reputations matter in both Chinese and Californian circles. We handle sensitive cases as quietly as the law allows, and, where necessary, work with trusted PR and security teams so that protecting your legal position does not put your privacy or safety at risk.

Litigation and Appeals Experience in China-California Matters

Some matters settle, but some do not. When an order involving your children, property, or support needs to be challenged or defended on appeal, we handle the process for you and explain the cross-border context clearly, so the appeal court can see what their decision will mean in both China and California.

A California Partner for Chinese and Asian Lawyers

Many of our China-California cases come through referrals from lawyers in Mainland China and other parts of Asia who want a California team they can rely on. They ask us to help with strategy, enforcement, and timing across both systems, knowing we will treat their clients with respect and give a straightforward view of the risks and likely responses in a California court.

Staying Ahead of Cross-Border Legal Strategy

Our attorneys take part in international programs on cross-border family law. Managing Partner Alphonse Provinziano speaks at IAFL conferences and other international events and spends time with colleagues who handle China-related matters worldwide, comparing how courts deal with real families, assets, and support disputes. The lessons from those rooms go straight into the advice we give in your active China-California cases.

When It’s All on the Line, This Is Who Leads the Room

Alphonse F. Provinziano is a distinguished international family law attorney based in Beverly Hills, California.

He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization.

These credentials reflect independent vetting, including peer review and demonstrated experience in complex family law cases.

He regularly serves as U.S. counsel in cross-border divorce, custody, child and spousal support maintenance, and enforcement cases involving California jurisdiction, including Hague Convention and international property disputes.

  • Fellow, International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)
  • President-Elect, Beverly Hills Bar Association
  • Super Lawyers: 2021–2026
  • Avvo Rating: 10.0 (Superb)
  • Former Prosecutor

With over 2,000 cases and 220+ trials, he brings seasoned courtroom strategy to high-stakes international cases involving complex assets, reputation risk, executives, and public figures.

He frequently speaks and moderates to top family law attorneys in both the U.S and at global family law conferences.

Meet Alphonse Provinziano

Managing Partner & Senior Trial Attorney

Alphonse F. Provinziano, managing partner and senior trial attorney, with 2026 Elite Lawyer Family Law recognition badge
Featured in: Solicitors Journal, Bloomberg Law, The Mirror, Fortune, Fast Company, International Business Times (UK), and more.

When It’s All on the Line, This Is Who Leads the Room

Alphonse F. Provinziano, managing partner and senior trial attorney, with 2026 Elite Lawyer Family Law recognition badge

Meet Alphonse Provinziano

Managing Partner & Senior Trial Attorney

Alphonse F. Provinziano is a distinguished international family law attorney based in Beverly Hills, California. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. These credentials reflect independent vetting, including peer review and demonstrated experience in complex family law cases.

He regularly serves as U.S. counsel in cross-border divorce, custody, child and spousal support maintenance, and enforcement cases involving California jurisdiction, including Hague Convention and international property disputes.

  • Fellow, International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)
  • President-Elect, Beverly Hills Bar Association
  • Super Lawyers: 2021–2026
  • Avvo Rating: 10.0 (Superb)
  • Former Prosecutor

With over 2,000 cases and 220+ trials, he brings seasoned courtroom strategy to high-stakes international cases involving complex assets, reputation risk, executives, and public figures.

He frequently speaks and moderates to top family law attorneys in both the U.S and at global family law conferences.

Featured in: Solicitors Journal, Bloomberg Law, The Mirror, Fortune, Fast Company, International Business Times (UK), and more.

Consult a China–California International Family Law Attorney

Papers from a California court, a Chinese judgment, or a draft agreement on your desk can all feel urgent, and it is easy to react too quickly. A short, focused consultation at this stage can change who takes the lead, how your assets are viewed, and what choices you still have about your children and your future.

In a confidential, encrypted video meeting held in Mandarin or English, we review your key documents from China and California and ask what you most want to protect or achieve. You leave with a clear explanation of your realistic options and the next few steps that make sense, rather than a stack of unanswered questions.

Whether you are currently in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Taipei, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Orange County, or elsewhere, you can connect with us securely from wherever you are.

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Frequently Asked Questions About China-California Divorce

Can I get divorced in California if my spouse lives in China?
If you (or your spouse) have lived in California for the last six months and in your current California county for the last three months, you can generally file for divorce in that county, even if your spouse lives in China. However, the court’s power to decide property, support, and custody may also depend on other jurisdiction rules, including your spouse’s and children’s connections to California.
California’s community property system generally treats property acquired during the marriage as belonging to both spouses, regardless of whose name is on title. When a California court has authority over your divorce, it can characterize and divide community and quasi‑community property even if some assets are located outside the state, but how any order is actually enforced in China will depend on Chinese law and procedure.
The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is a treaty that helps return children who are wrongfully removed or retained between countries that are partners under the Convention. China is not a U.S. treaty partner under the Hague Abduction Convention, and there is no Hague‑based return process between the U.S. and China. If a child is taken to or kept in China, parents generally must pursue remedies under Chinese law, with the U.S. State Department able to provide information and limited assistance but not a Hague return case.
California divorce judgments are not automatically enforceable in other countries, and the U.S. government cannot require a foreign court to honor a U.S. court order. Whether a Chinese court will recognize and enforce part or all of a California divorce decree depends on Chinese law and procedure, so parents and spouses are advised to consult a lawyer in China to understand what may be possible there.
International cases involving California and China often raise extra questions about jurisdiction, service, property outside the U.S., and how foreign courts may treat U.S. orders, which go beyond what standard self‑help materials cover. An attorney with substantial international family law experience can help coordinate strategy between California and foreign counsel so that steps taken in one country do not create unexpected problems in the other.
If cases are filed in both California and China, each court will apply its own law to decide whether to take or limit jurisdiction, and the U.S. government cannot interfere with how Chinese courts handle their proceedings. Which court addresses particular issues—and whether one court defers to the other—will depend on the specific facts and the law of each country, so this situation requires individualized advice from both California and Chinese counsel.
If a marital property agreement signed in China is presented in a California divorce, a California court will look at it under California law to decide whether and how to enforce it, including whether it was entered into voluntarily and with the required safeguards for marital agreements. Because foreign agreements can raise complex questions about both California and foreign law, they usually need careful review by a California attorney, often in consultation with counsel in China.

Parents must follow any existing custody orders, and moving a child in violation of a court order can have serious legal consequences, including in international cases. Because China is not a U.S. partner under the Hague Abduction Convention, there is no Hague treaty procedure to seek a child’s return from China, so parents worried about possible travel or abduction to China should speak with a lawyer about preventive orders and about what remedies may be available under Chinese law.