Cyprus family law regulates the relationship between spouses and children after the couple's separation.
After the separation, the following matters arise; each of them is a separate case for the family court.
The family courts have exclusive jurisdiction to determine petitions for divorce, custody of children, maintenance, and property disputes between spouses where the parties are members of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Petition for divorce can be filed at the District Family Court by any of the spouses after their separation. For the Cypriot Courts to have jurisdiction, the spouses must live in Cyprus for at least three months before the filing of the divorce application.
The petition stated above includes the facts of the case, name of parties, date of marriage, address as well as if they have a child/ children. The central part of the petition that the Court will consider is the reasons of the divorce and which of the spouses is responsible for those reasons. Or whether the spouses are equally liable for the divorce, for example, similarly accountable for the severe breakdown of the relationship (loss of contact, miscommunication, conflicts).
After the couple's divorce, one of the parents will have the child/children's care, and custody and the other parent has the right to adequate communication with the child/children.
One of the two parents can file a petition at the District Family Court, where the child lives. Thus after legal proceedings, the Court will decide which of the parents will take the childcare and custody, and it will regulate the right of communication of the other parent.
The Parents and Children Relations Laws 1990 to 2008 include all the provisions regarding childcare and maintenance, and communication with the parents as well as removing through court proceedings the childcare and maintenance off one of the parents and more. The parents are undoubtedly and inseparably responsible for the child/children’s maintenance up to the age of 18.
The parent who has the childcare and custody following a Court decision is entitled to claim child maintenance for the minor child/children from the other parent. The claim stated above must be filed through a petition at the District Family Court, where the children/child live(s).