Family law reform in Cyprus: what is changing in divorce and children's rights

Eight bills have been prepared as part of the reform of family law in Cyprus. Parliament has already approved four of them, including provisions on divorce by mutual consent and on an accelerated divorce procedure.

On 2 September 2026 the parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Public Order began an article-by-article review of the next block: the bill amending the Law on Parent and Child Relations (parliamentary file 23.01.059.036-2018). According to the official agenda of the House of Representatives, the review will continue on 23 September 2026. Until this stage is completed and the plenary vote is held, the changes are not in force, and the courts apply the current wording of Law No. 216/1990.

The new bills mainly concern protecting children's interests when parents divorce. It is proposed to:

• strengthen the protection of children from domestic violence;
• give the child access to psychological support;
• introduce counselling programmes for parents going through divorce;
• introduce mandatory disclosure of parents' income and assets (a sworn statement) and an additional measure for cases of non-payment of maintenance; these provisions are not yet in force, and the courts still apply the current rules for calculating and recovering maintenance;
• set up a multidisciplinary group of divorce specialists, whose work would be coordinated by the social services;
• take the child's opinion into account depending on their age and maturity.

Particular attention is planned for cases where, after a divorce, a child almost completely loses contact with one of the parents. MPs propose developing mechanisms to restore such relationships, provided this is in the child's interests and does not pose a threat to their safety.

It is important not to confuse the proposed measure with a rule that already exists: since 2008, Article 38(2) of Law No. 216/1990 has provided for an automatic 10% increase in maintenance every 24 months, unless a court, on the payer's application, cancels or limits such an increase. This rule already applies today and does not depend on the current reform.

According to the Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus (CYSTAT), the record number of divorces was recorded in 2019: 2,308 couples. In 2020, which saw the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, the figure fell to 1,869, and in 2022 to 1,500. In 2023, 2,134 divorces were registered, and in 2024, 2,107.

In most cases it is Cypriot citizens who end their marriages. Most divorces are registered in Nicosia: 891 in 2023 and 794 in 2024. Limassol is second, with 555 divorces in 2023 and 575 in 2024. The fewest divorces are in the free areas of the Famagusta district.

A significant proportion of those who divorced in 2024 had been married for more than 20 years. The likelihood of divorce falls as the number of children rises: in 2024 only 3 divorces were registered among families with more than 5 children, and 18 among couples with 4 children. For comparison, 541 divorcing couples were raising one child, and 1,047 divorced couples had no children.

Divorce affects more than the personal relationship of the former spouses. If the couple has children, it must be decided who they will live with, how often they can spend time with each parent, and who will pay maintenance and in what amount.

Court practice shows that men more often seek a clear arrangement for contact with the children and a precise amount of maintenance, while for women, housing and determining the child's place of residence are usually the higher priorities.

The reform is intended to make family disputes and the divorce procedure more transparent, faster and more humane, and to reduce the negative consequences for children. The new legislation should enshrine the equality of parents and ensure a fair division of responsibilities for raising and supporting the child.