Edith van Ruitenbeek

What does ‘being a parent’ mean? What do custody or parental responsibility entail? For instance, do you have a say in the choice of school for your children? Especially for unmarried expat parents, the answers to these questions are not… read more >

To Be or Not to Be a FatherWhat does ‘being a parent’ mean? What do custody or parental responsibility entail? For instance, do you have a say in the choice of school for your children? Especially for unmarried expat parents, the answers to these questions are not simple.   If an expat father wants to create the best conditions for his children to grow up safely, with the health care and education he considers to be the best, the best thing he can do is make sure that he has a legal say in this.   www.vanhilten.nu read more >

When moving from one country to another for job reasons, one of the issues expat parents have to deal with is choosing the right school for their child(ren) – in terms of creating the best conditions for obtaining the diplomas… read more >

Access to Education and Other Children’s RightsWhen moving from one country to another for job reasons, one of the issues expat parents have to deal with is choosing the right school for their child(ren) – in terms of creating the best conditions for obtaining the diplomas necessary for facing the global future. After all, the kids of today often already consider the world to be theirs. Options can also entail complications, however – for instance, when the emotional well-being of the children in the new country threatens to become compromised. This is likely to happen when (expat) parents expect their children to be cognitively able to cope with all the demands of school, as well as extra‑curricular language lessons and/or religious education so as not to lose touch with their culture of origin. Something that is made possible by the large offer of education in the Netherlands. As a lawyer and mediator specialized in family law, with an international practice, I have often seen parents in a divorce situation who have different nationalities and backgrounds or religions, thus giving rise to a situation in which the children are ‘caught in the middle’. At the very least for the sake of the children, a high-conflict divorce should be avoided, as this can cause severe trauma. A situation I always try to prevent by asking the divorcing spouses right from the beginning to think as parents, instead of ex-partners, and to consider their children’s rights as well.   www.vanhilten.nu  read more >

By Edith van Ruitenbeek When moving from one country to another, finding the right school – in terms of creating the best opportunities for obtaining the necessary diplomas to face the global future – used to be easier for British… read more >

Access to Education and Other Children’s RightsBy Edith van Ruitenbeek When moving from one country to another, finding the right school – in terms of creating the best opportunities for obtaining the necessary diplomas to face the global future – used to be easier for British kids than for others. This, due to the many British schools, or at least schools with a curriculum in English, across the globe that help prepare kids for a global career. The question is whether Brexit will change things, for instance for the many British kids living in the Netherlands. There are British parents, who have lived an expat life for many, many years, who fear that they or their children will be “landlocked” after Brexit – instead of being free to move, at least in the EU, to study and work as they were accustomed to. A group of British nationals living in the Netherlands has therefore made a legal bid in the Amsterdam court to retain their EU citizenship after Brexit, arguing that their rights cannot be removed under European law. www.vanhilten.nu read more >

The right of a child to an education (Art 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child) is considered an important right. Without a doubt, with the right education, children are better prepared for their future. Complications can… read more >

Access to Education and Other Children’s RightsThe right of a child to an education (Art 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child) is considered an important right. Without a doubt, with the right education, children are better prepared for their future. Complications can easily arise when the emotional well-being of the children is not taken into account in the new country. This is likely to happen when (expat) parents expect their intelligent children to be cognitively able to cope with the demands of school, as well as with extra‑curricular language lessons or religious education programmes so as not to lose touch with their culture of origin. In divorce situations, in which the parents have different nationalities and backgrounds or religions, these parents are inclined to become even more adamant about this, making the situation ever more complicated. As a lawyer and mediator specialised in family law with an international practice, Edith van Ruitenbeek sometimes has to help children who are ‘caught in the middle’ as their parents wrestle their way through a high-conflict divorce. She knows that this can cause severe trauma, while the children’s well-being becomes increasingly at stake. Which is why she always try to prevent this type of situation by asking the spouses to think as parents instead of ex-partners – right from the beginning.   www.vanhilten.nu read more >

This article goes into the implications of an expat career for the marital property regime of spouses. Whereas Dutch people often do not know the contents of their prenuptial agreement, or, if they do not have a prenup, what they… read more >

MPRThis article goes into the implications of an expat career for the marital property regime of spouses. Whereas Dutch people often do not know the contents of their prenuptial agreement, or, if they do not have a prenup, what they are entitled to according to the law, expats often do not even know which law applies to their marital property regime (MPR), especially if they have not drawn up a prenup. As a family lawyer, the author knows that expat families are often not aware of the challenges that accompany an international career – for experience shows that almost one out of two expat relationships fail. Which is why it is imperative that expats are aware of the several ways to end a marriage, or that at least this information is accessible to expats. Especially when it comes to the implications of their expat career for their marital property regime (MPR), preferably before they become caught up in a divorce. www.hvradvocaten.nl read more >