Services · Family Law and Estates
Family Law and Estates in Cali
We support individuals and families through divorce, custody and visitation, child support, de facto marital unions and estate proceedings, with technical rigor and close support at times that are often difficult. We meet in person in Cali and online anywhere in Colombia.
Schedule a consultationDivorce and Termination of the Civil Effects of Marriage
When both spouses agree, a civil divorce or the termination of the civil effects of a religious marriage can be processed before a notary or a judge. The agreement must address the applicable support obligations, the arrangements for minor children and the status of the marital property regime (sociedad conyugal). That regime can be settled together with the divorce or afterwards. Without agreement, either spouse can unilaterally ask a judge for a divorce, submitting a proposal to govern its effects. We help you choose the path, prepare the agreements and represent you in the proceeding.
Custody, Visitation and Child Support
Custody and personal care of the children, visitation and child support can be agreed between the parents, settled before a conciliation center or the competent family authority, or set by a judge. In these matters the law generally requires an attempt at conciliation before going to court. We support you through conciliation, in setting or reviewing support and in collecting it when it goes unpaid.
De Facto Marital Union
A de facto marital union between permanent partners can be declared by mutual agreement through a public deed before a notary or through a conciliation record at an authorized center. If there is a dispute, the declaration can be requested from a judge; as a general rule, conciliation must be attempted first. When the legal requirements are met, a joint property partnership (sociedad patrimonial) may exist between the partners, and its dissolution and settlement require the corresponding procedure. We advise on the declaration of the union and on the dissolution and settlement of the joint property partnership.
Estates: Before a Notary or in Court
When a person dies, their estate is settled through a succession procedure. It can be handled before a notary when the interested parties agree and the legal requirements are met, even when there are minor heirs who are duly represented. If there is disagreement or the requirements for the notarial path are not met, the case must go before the competent judge. We prepare the inventory, the appraisal and the division of the estate, and represent the heirs on either path.
Learn how a notarial estate settlement works in CaliWho Handles Your Case
Family Law and Estates matters are handled by Ana Luisa Giraldo Velasco, founding partner, who practices family and civil law, and Nefferi Vivian Rizo Molina, a litigation attorney in civil matters.
Coverage
We meet in person at our office in Cali, in the Edificio Alcalá (Carrera 3 No. 7-75, office 504), and online anywhere in Colombia, by appointment from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a divorce be processed before a notary?
Yes, when both spouses agree, through a lawyer and a public deed. They must set out the applicable support obligations and state the status of the marital property regime. If there are minor children, the agreement must cover support, custody and visitation, and the notary requests the opinion of the family defender (Defensor de Familia). The marital property regime can be settled together with the divorce or afterwards. Without agreement, the case goes before a judge.
How is child support set?
The parents can agree on it and record it in a conciliation record, which allows its enforcement in court. Without agreement, a family judge sets it based on the child’s needs and the financial capacity of the parent who must pay. Support can be reviewed when those circumstances change.
What happens if one of the heirs is a minor?
The estate can be settled before a notary if the legal requirements are met: at least one interested party must be of legal age, the minor must be duly represented, and the interested parties with legal capacity and the legal representatives must agree. The procedure must safeguard the minor’s rights. If these conditions are not met, the case goes before a judge.
How is a de facto marital union declared?
It can be declared by mutual agreement through a public deed before a notary or through a conciliation record at an authorized center. If there is a dispute, the declaration can be requested from a judge, generally after attempting conciliation. If one of the partners has died and the union had not been declared, we review the evidence, the heirs who must take part and whether conciliation must be attempted before starting the court case.
Do you handle family matters online?
Yes. We meet in person in Cali and online anywhere in Colombia, by appointment. Many family and estate procedures can be prepared remotely; when the notary’s office or the court requires you to appear, we support you through that step.
If you are facing a divorce, a matter involving your children, a marital union or an estate, schedule a consultation and we will review your case and the path that suits you best.