Family lawyer

Family law specialist lawyer

If you are considering a divorce, arranging custody, claiming child support, or modifying existing arrangements, we help you do it with strategy, clarity, and a focus on what truly matters. Online assistance across Barcelona and in-person appointments in Barberà.

When a relationship ends, it is rarely just the relationship that ends. Many other things are affected at the same time: children, housing, finances, routines, expectations, and accumulated tension.
That is why, in family law, the most important thing is not to react on impulse. The key is to properly structure the situation from the outset and clearly decide what you want to protect, what can be negotiated, and what is worth contesting.

At ASO Corporate, we help you do exactly that. We work from Barberà del Vallès by appointment and also provide online assistance to clients throughout the province of Barcelona. If your case is governed by Catalan law, we approach it under the specific framework of Catalonia, where the Catalan Civil Code regulates separation, parental responsibilities, parenting plans, custody arrangements, the family home, and compensatory maintenance in a distinct way.

Divorce, separation, and relationship breakdown: getting the important things right from the start

When there is agreement, the Civil Code provides that divorce or separation can be processed through a regulatory agreement (convenio regulador), which must cover, where applicable, matters such as the care of children, contact and communication arrangements, contribution to household expenses and child support, division of matrimonial property, and any potential spousal maintenance.
When there is no agreement, the court will determine the appropriate measures and may modify them if there is a substantial change in circumstances. This general framework applies both under the Spanish Civil Code and Catalan law.

In practical terms: it is not advisable to focus only on “signing quickly”. What matters is properly defining custody, time arrangements, housing, expenses, maintenance, and review mechanisms to avoid creating larger conflicts in the future.

I want to review my divorce or separation

Custody, shared custody, and parenting plan in Catalonia

If there are children involved, this is the core issue.

Under the Spanish Civil Code, separation, annulment, and divorce do not relieve parents of their obligations towards their children, and the court must always decide based on the best interests of the child. The court also determines contact, visitation, and communication arrangements where necessary.
In Catalonia, in addition, separation or divorce does not alter parental responsibilities, which generally remain joint and should, as far as possible, be exercised together. The law requires the submission of a parenting plan, which must set out practical matters such as where the children will live, how custody changes will take place, how responsibilities will be shared, and how holidays and communication will be organised.
Custody can be exercised in accordance with this plan, unless it is detrimental to the children. If there is no agreement, the court will decide, taking into account the joint nature of parental responsibilities, although it may award sole custody if that better serves the child’s interests.

The key point: shared custody is not achieved through slogans, and sole custody is not justified by fear or conflict alone. What matters is grounding the case in real schedules, routines, caregiving capacity, communication, and the child’s stability.

I want to regulate custody and parenthood

Child support, expenses, and a real balance between parents

When children are involved, it is not enough to decide where they live. It is also necessary to properly organise how their day-to-day and extraordinary needs are covered.

Under the general Spanish regime, the parenting agreement must set out the contribution to household expenses and child support, including update mechanisms and guarantees where appropriate. In Catalonia, both the agreement and the parenting plan must specify child support in relation to ordinary and extraordinary needs, its frequency, method of payment, and criteria for adjustment.

This means that a proper arrangement is not just about setting an amount. It must clearly define:

what the child support covers
what is considered an extraordinary expense
how it is updated over time
how non-ordinary expenses are shared
and what happens if income or needs change

The key idea here is simple: the system should be fair, workable, and clear enough to avoid creating a new conflict every month.

Use of the family home and compensatory maintenance

In a relationship breakdown, the issue of the family home does not resolve itself.

In Catalonia, the law allows the use of the family home to be agreed upon, and if there is no agreement, the court will generally assign it to the parent who has custody of the children for as long as that situation lasts. In certain cases — such as shared custody or where there are no minor children — it may be assigned to the spouse with greater need, usually on a temporary basis.

Regarding compensatory maintenance, Catalan law provides that its amount and duration must take into account, in particular, the financial position of both parties, the family duties that may have affected earning capacity, future financial prospects, the duration of the relationship, and the new financial burdens of the debtor. It may be awarded either as a lump sum or as periodic payments.

Under the general Spanish regime, Article 97 of the Civil Code recognises compensation where the separation or divorce causes one spouse a financial imbalance compared to the other, representing a deterioration of their situation during the marriage.

The key point here is not to mix concepts: child support is one thing, the use of the family home is another, and compensatory maintenance between spouses or former spouses is a separate issue.

I want to review housing and compensatory maintenance

Modification of measures when life changes

Many people assume that a judgment or settlement agreement is “forever”. It is not.

Both the Spanish Civil Code and the Catalan Civil Code allow for modification of measures when there is a substantial change in circumstances. In Catalonia, if an out-of-court agreement attempt through mediation is made before filing for judicial modification, the court decision may retroactively take effect from the date the mediation process began.

This is particularly relevant in situations such as:

changes in income
relocation
changes in working hours or availability
new needs of the children
repeated non-compliance with the current arrangement
evolution of the family situation

I want to modify court orders or agreed measures

How we handle your family law case

1. We turn the conflict into concrete decisions
We do not work with abstract arguments. We focus on custody, schedules, housing, expenses, income, and legal strategy.

2. If an agreement is possible, we structure it properly
A poorly drafted agreement creates future conflict. A well-designed one prevents unnecessary disputes and long-term friction.

3. If there is no agreement, we build a solid legal strategy
It is not about arguing for the sake of it. It is about properly proving what you are requesting and why it genuinely benefits the child or protects your legal position.

4. We also think about what happens next
How the measures will be enforced, how they can be modified, and how to avoid returning to court every few months.

What documentation do we need?

If you already have it, it is useful to gather:

marriage certificate or family record book, if applicable
prior agreement or court judgment, if any exists
children’s birth certificates
pay slips, tax returns, or relevant financial documentation
information about housing, mortgage, or rental agreement
ordinary and extraordinary expenses related to the children
relevant communications between parents
real schedule of care and availability
any draft agreement, proposal, or prior legal request

If you do not have everything, that is not a problem. We will tell you what is truly necessary and what should be prepared before taking any steps.

If I get divorced, do I still have obligations towards my children?

Yes. Separation, annulment, or divorce do not release parents from their obligations towards their children.

Is shared custody automatic in Catalonia?

No. Catalan law is based on the joint nature of parental responsibilities and requires a parenting plan. The court may also award sole custody if it better serves the child’s interests.

What must a divorce agreement include?

At a minimum, where applicable, it must include measures regarding children, communication and visitation arrangements, contribution to household expenses and child support, division of matrimonial property, and any potential spousal maintenance.

What is the parenting plan?

In Catalonia, it is the document that sets out how both parents will exercise their parental responsibilities in practice: the children’s main residence, day-to-day care duties, custody transitions, communication arrangements, holiday periods, and other aspects of their daily life.

Can custody, child support, or visitation arrangements be changed?

Yes, if there is a substantial change in circumstances. This is provided for under both the general Spanish legal framework and Catalan law.

Is the family home always assigned to the custodial parent?

No. In Catalonia there is a preferential rule linked to custody of the children, but the use of the family home may also be granted to the spouse in greater need in certain cases, and sometimes on a temporary basis.

When can compensatory maintenance be awarded?

It may be granted when the breakdown of the relationship creates a significant financial imbalance. In Catalonia, factors such as the financial position of both parties, family care responsibilities, future economic prospects, and the duration of the relationship are taken into account. Under the general Spanish regime, Article 97 of the Civil Code is based on whether the separation or divorce causes a deterioration in the spouse’s situation compared to their position during the marriage.

If you have a family law issue, it is better to handle it with a clear strategy

In family law, poorly made decisions tend to have long-lasting consequences.
If you are considering divorce, custody arrangements, child support claims or defence, reviewing the family home, or modifying existing measures, we help you approach it with a clear objective: properly protect what matters and avoid costly mistakes.

Request an initial assessment of your family law matter