Family Courts in El Prat de Llobregat: Key Information and Local Specifics
El Prat de Llobregat, located in the province of Barcelona, has Courts of First Instance and Instruction that handle family matters, including divorce, separation, child custody, alimony, and liquidation of the marital property regime. Family proceedings are processed at the courts situated at Plaça de l'Amistat, 1 (08820) and Riu Xúquer, 20 (08820), according to the internal distribution of local judicial bodies. Usual opening hours are Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 2 pm. There are no exclusive family courts in El Prat de Llobregat; these matters are distributed among the local mixed courts.
The Civil Registry of El Prat de Llobregat is also located at Plaça de l'Amistat, 1, which facilitates the registration of births, marriages, and other civil status matters frequently arising in family law proceedings such as divorces or adoptions.
Types of Divorce and Timeframes in El Prat de Llobregat
As in the rest of Spain, there are two main types of divorce in El Prat de Llobregat:
- Mutual consent divorce: Usually resolved within 2 to 3 months from the filing of the joint petition and regulatory agreement. It is quicker and more cost-effective, as both parties may share a lawyer and court representative. The agreement must be ratified before the court.
- Contentious divorce: When no agreement exists, each party must have their own lawyer. This process is longer, typically taking 6 to 12 months, depending on the court's workload and case complexity. Hearings and, sometimes, expert reports are common.
The average cost of a mutual consent divorce in El Prat de Llobregat ranges from €800 to €1,500 (indicative fees for lawyer and court representative), while a contentious divorce may exceed €2,000, excluding possible expert or additional reports. The regulatory agreement must cover custody, visitation rights, child support, use of the family home, and—if applicable—spousal support.
Child Support and Custody: Criteria and Figures
The calculation of child support in El Prat de Llobregat follows the criteria of Article 146 of the Spanish Civil Code: it is set in proportion to both parents' financial resources and the children's actual needs. In practice, the average child support in Spain is between €150 and €400 per month per child, although the amount may vary depending on income and the number of children. The court usually requires documentation of income and expenses to determine a fair amount.
Regarding custody, the courts in El Prat de Llobregat may grant joint or sole custody. The trend in Catalonia, according to the Llibre II of the Catalan Civil Code, is to favor joint custody unless there are reasons against it. The standard visitation schedule in cases of sole custody typically includes alternate weekends and half of the school holidays, but it can be adapted to each family's circumstances.
Why Choose Our Law Firm in El Prat de Llobregat
We offer in-person services at our office in El Prat de Llobregat, as well as online consultations for your convenience. We prioritize mediation and out-of-court negotiation, seeking agreements that minimize conflict and expedite proceedings before local courts. Our experience allows us to anticipate the usual criteria of local courts and prepare the necessary documentation according to the requirements of the judicial district.
The no-obligation initial consultation allows us to assess your case's viability and provide guidance on the steps to follow, realistic timeframes, and costs. We defend your rights in family law proceedings and work with independent medical experts when necessary for family situation assessments.
