Separation and Divorce

Ms. Will advises clients on the full range of legal consequences that follow from separation and divorce. Her advisory services cover:

• Spousal and post-marital maintenance,
• Child support (Kindesunterhalt),
• Division of assets and equalization of accrued gains (Zugewinnausgleich),
• Pension rights equalization (Versorgungsausgleich),
• Prenuptial agreements and divorce settlement agreements.

She places particular emphasis on a realistic assessment of each client’s position and clear communication about the available options.

Custody and Contact Rights

Ms. Will advises parents on child custody, the right to determine a child’s place of residence, and contact arrangements. She supports both consensual solutions and proceedings before the family court, with the child’s welfare as the guiding standard.

Binational Marriages and International Divorce

When spouses hold different nationalities or have lived in several countries, the first question in a divorce is often which court has jurisdiction and which country’s law applies. The answers can shape the outcome of maintenance, asset division, and custody matters. Ms. Will advises on international divorce in Germany, the recognition and enforcement of foreign family court decisions, and prenuptial agreements for international couples, with attention to whether they will hold up in multiple jurisdictions. Wherever possible, she advises clients on their position before proceedings begin, since the timing and place of filing can have lasting consequences.

Children Born Abroad and Cross-Border Custody

For international families, questions about children often involve both family law and nationality law. A child born abroad to a German parent who was also born abroad after December 31, 1999, generally acquires German citizenship only if the birth is registered with the responsible German mission within one year (Section 4(4) StAG). Ms. Will advises parents on these requirements, as well as on cross-border custody and contact matters and international adoption proceedings.

Citizenship by Descent

Ms. Will advises clients on acquiring German citizenship by descent. She guides them through the process of establishing proof, from obtaining birth certificates and family records to historical documents that confirm a direct line of descent.

Restitution of Citizenship

Verena Will has particular expertise in restitution cases, which restore German citizenship to descendants of people who lost it through persecution by the National Socialist regime. She leads clients through the statutory requirements under Article 116(2) of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz) and Section 15 StAG and the documentation needed to assert their claim. Her work involves careful analysis of the historical circumstances and the legal framework that applies to them.

Naturalization Through Residence

Ms. Will supports foreign nationals seeking naturalization in Germany. She advises on the required period of residence, language certificates, and proof of knowledge of the German legal and social order, and helps clients demonstrate financial self-sufficiency. The goal is a complete and convincing application.

Dual Citizenship

Ms. Will advises on dual citizenship, particularly where clients wish to acquire German citizenship while keeping their existing nationality, or to retain German citizenship when acquiring another. She explains how German law and the law of the other country interact, so that clients can plan with confidence.

Verena Will studied German law at the University of Cologne, specializing in international and European law. She completed her legal clerkship (Referendariat), the mandatory practical training phase for German lawyers, at the Cologne Regional Court, gaining practical experience across a range of legal areas.

She speaks English fluently and has good knowledge of Italian and French. Her international legal background and her work with clients from many countries make her a well-suited point of contact for international families and clients with cross-border matters.