Agreement plus civil-affairs registration — court is the other path if you cannot agree.
Where both spouses agree to divorce and have settled children, property and debts, Mainland China generally uses divorce registration at the civil-affairs authority, not a first-instance court judgment. After application, a cooling-off period usually runs (see the related pages page); both must then appear to complete registration. If they cannot agree, or one will not appear, the path is litigation. Foreign-related facts can still use this path when jurisdiction and identity documents work, but they often do not. This page upgrades the live mutual-consent URL. City blogs and the national family guide stay on their own URLs.
4 questions before you choose the route.
This page identifies the right question and evidence. It does not determine the legal outcome on a reader’s facts.
Do both want the divorce?
If not, court path.
WillAre children and property agreed in writing?
Registration needs a complete settlement.
DealCan both attend civil affairs?
Power of attorney is tightly limited.
AttendIs a cooling-off clock running?
Open the cooling-off related pages.
ClockWorking rule: Map the regulated role before marketing or launch in China.
The signal ledger.
These facts move the question beyond a label and into a product, money-flow and control analysis.
Bring a compact evidence docket—not a pitch deck.
Give a compliance team or counsel the operating facts that reveal the perimeter.
Questions people ask before they build.
Short answers for orientation. The right result can change with the service model and current rules.
Is this the same as a US uncontested divorce?
No. Mainland registration is an administrative civil-affairs act, not a court decree — unless you later need a judgment for overseas use.
Do foreigners qualify?
Sometimes. Open the foreigners and jurisdiction pages. Do not assume a tourist visa is enough.
Primary authorities
Reviewed sources support orientation, not a fact-specific assessment.