Mattar Law Firm is a leading Lebanese law firm with an international presence and a longstanding reputation among businesses, institutions, legal professionals and private clients.
Established in 1963, the Firm brings together more than 60 years of legal experience across a broad range of practice...
Divorce & Separation lawyers in Beirut, Lebanon at a glance
What the 1 firm in this list says about itself. When a firm has not told us something, we count it as not stated rather than guess.
firm in this list
1
1 of 1 with an office in the city
median founding year
1963
1 of 1 firms give one
people: the most common team size
6–20
1 of 1 firms give one
1 office on the map. Only offices we could place in Beirut, Lebanon are shown.
Where their offices are
1 office in this list
Show the address
Mattar Law Firm · Badaro, Sami el solh Avenue, Al Fakih bldg, 7th floor . Mattar Law Firm
Languages firms state
Arabic1 firm
English1 firm
French1 firm
A language counts only when the firm lists it on its profile.
When they were founded
1950 to 19891 firm
The oldest dates from 1963; the median is 1963.
How big their teams are
6 to 20 people1 firm
Counted from the firms' own profiles. Firms keep these facts up to date in their dashboard. Update your firm's profile
Divorce & Separation lawyers in Beirut: what to know before you hire
A guide by LawzanaOfficial sources checked 29 October 2026.
Start with your marriage certificate: religious and foreign civil-marriage routes differ. Set out the arrangements you want for children and support, and include civil registration in your divorce plans.
This guide covers law and procedure in Lebanon.
Defendant's response
15 days
Article 154: from service of claim and documents; Article 157 permits 24 hours for urgency. [4][5]
Additional receipt
LBP 1,000,000
An additional financial receipt is listed after one month from the contract date. [6]
Agreed terms
Court approval
Article 172 permits approval of a recorded, signed settlement if no legal obstacle exists. [7]
When a lawyer can help
A divorce claim or agreed settlement
You want to end the marriage and resolve some or all of the terms by agreement.
Handled by: Bring divorce claims to the competent Sharia court; record and sign any settlement for approval if no legal obstacle prevents it.
Lawyer recommended
Prepare the claim, explain proposed concessions and present any lawful settlement for approval. [2][8][7]
Handled by:
Bring divorce claims to the competent Sharia court; record and sign any settlement for approval if no legal obstacle prevents it.
Lawyer recommended
Separation while the marriage continues
You want a formal separation while the marriage bond remains in place.
Handled by: Seek approval of agreed separation terms from the competent spiritual court.
Lawyer recommended
Review the proposed separation terms and seek the spiritual court's approval. [9]
Handled by:
Seek approval of agreed separation terms from the competent spiritual court.
You married abroad in that country's civil form; both spouses are Lebanese, or one Lebanese and one foreign.
Handled by: Lebanese civil courts hear disputes, subject to Sharia and Druze jurisdiction laws if both spouses are Muslim and at least one is Lebanese.
Lawyer recommended
Check jurisdiction using the marriage certificate, each spouse's nationality and the applicable marriage law. [1]
Handled by:
Lebanese civil courts hear disputes, subject to Sharia and Druze jurisdiction laws if both spouses are Muslim and at least one is Lebanese.
What experience do you have with marriages governed by the same personal status law as mine?
How would you approach an agreement, and how would you handle a dispute?
Who would handle my file and attend hearings?
How will you keep me informed, and in which language?
Are you available to deal with any dates shown on my court papers?
Can we meet in person in Beirut or speak remotely?
What to bring
Your marriage certificate or contract and any existing separation agreement.
Any court papers, judgments, envelopes and notices you have received.
A short chronology and a list of the outcomes you want.
Available records of income, expenses, assets and debts.
Any existing child arrangements, relevant messages or incident records.
Costs and free help
Official charges and free public services
Document filing charges
LBP 400,000; an additional LBP 1,000,000 after one month
LBP 400,000 applies if the document is submitted within one month from the contract date. After that month, an additional LBP 1,000,000 receipt is listed. A mukhtar stamp is also listed. [6]
Protection request
No judicial fees or court expenses
Article 16 exempts protection requests from judicial fees and expenses and allows submission without a lawyer. [13]
Questions about lawyer charges
Is the first consultation charged, and what does it include?
How will you calculate fees for an agreed matter and for contested proceedings?
Does your quote include tax, court charges, translation, registration and enforcement work?
Can I have a written quote explaining payment stages and how additional work is approved?
A divorce case: agreement, Sharia court proceedings and civil-status registration
1
Identify the terms you can agree
Set out any proposed settlement before filing. During proceedings, the parties can record and sign an agreement. The court can approve it if no legal obstacle prevents approval. [7]
2
File the claim and requested orders
Start the first-instance case through a written claim or an oral statement recorded by the court. Identify both parties, their addresses, the subject of the case, supporting documents, requested orders and legal grounds. [8]
3
Respond to papers and attend the first hearing
A defendant normally has 15 days from service of the claim and documents to answer in writing. Urgency can shorten this to 24 hours. At the first hearing, the judge must try to reconcile the parties; proceedings continue if reconciliation fails. [4][5][19]
4
Obtain the executable judgment
If you win, get an enforceable certified copy after fees and enforceability checks. [2]
5
Register divorce: extra charge after one month from the contract date
Submit the properly prepared divorce document, final executable religious judgment, certified marriage document and family extracts to the competent civil-status registry. An enforcement decision is also listed for a divorce granted in a party's absence. File within one month to avoid the additional late charge. [6][3]
6
Seek enforcement if an order is not followed
For compulsory enforcement of obligations in a religious judgment, apply to the enforcement department attached to the court that heard the case. [21]
Common questions
Can I represent myself?
Article 112 permits litigants to appear personally and sign their own claims and submissions in the first-instance court. Article 113 requires assistance from a lawyer registered with the bar for appearances or signing any paper before the Supreme Court, unless that court grants permission on the litigant's request for exceptional reasons. [14][15]
Will our assets automatically be divided equally?
Do not assume an equal split. Christian, Sunni, Shia and Druze personal status codes do not recognise a shared marital-property regime. Set out your property concerns separately from the request to end the marriage. [16]
What appeal deadlines do Articles 226 and 300 set?
For appealable judgments, Article 226 allows 30 days, or eight days for travel-ban decisions. Time runs from issuance for contested judgments; from service for judgments treated as contested or default judgments not open to objection; and from expiry of the objection period for default judgments open to objection. Article 164 makes its court-approved reconciliation decision unappealable. [17][18][19]
Can I use a foreign divorce judgment to change my civil-status records?
To change Lebanese civil-status records using a foreign judgment, obtain an enforcement declaration. The application normally goes by petition to the president of the civil appeal court for the respondent's domicile or residence, or where the assets to be enforced against are located. Otherwise, it goes to the president of Beirut's civil appeal court. [20]
What can I do if a religious-court order is not followed?
Apply to the enforcement department attached to the court that heard the case. Compulsory enforcement requires a judgment marked as valid for enforcement and containing an obligation that calls for action against a person or assets. The department cannot enforce a religious judgment that exceeds the issuing court's jurisdiction or breaches public policy. [21]
Divorce, maintenance and custody matters, settlement approval where no legal obstacle exists, and personal appearance and signing papers in first-instance court. [2][7][14]
