Count the cost of leaving: agreed divorce has a 30-day cooling-off period, while court divorce has legal conditions
In China, signing an agreed divorce is not the end. Either spouse may withdraw within 30 days after the application. Both must then collect the divorce certificate in person within the next 30 days or the application is treated as withdrawn. If one refuses divorce, the other must sue. The court first mediates; specified grounds such as domestic violence, bigamy or two years' separation because of marital discord require divorce if mediation fails.
What it takes
Free to read up in advance on the process and likely time. Thinking about separation before marriage can be uncomfortable.
What you may gain
Agreed divorce requires a written agreement and a personal application to the registrar (Civil Code Article 1076). Either party may withdraw within 30 days of receipt; both must personally request the certificate within 30 days after that period or the application lapses (Article 1077). Where one spouse disagrees, court proceedings apply and mediation comes first. Failed mediation requires divorce where there is bigamy or cohabitation with another person, domestic violence or abuse/abandonment, persistent gambling or drug use despite correction, or two years' separation due to marital discord, among the statutory grounds. After a judgment refusing divorce, a further year of separation followed by another suit requires divorce (Article 1079). Of China's 3.513 million divorces in 2024, 891,000 were by court judgment or mediation.
Context & considerations
The cooling-off period applies only to agreed registered divorce. Litigation has no such period but takes longer. Court and lawyer fees vary locally, so no figures are given. High exit costs do not mean you should not marry, but you should understand them first.
Research & references
National People's Congress of China (2020). Civil Code, Articles 1076, 1077 and 1079. http://gongbao.court.gov.cn/Details/7f184078694d811fb3314f6af9accf.html; Ministry of Civil Affairs of China (2020). Notice on Implementing Marriage-Registration Provisions of the Civil Code, document [2020] No. 116. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2020-12/04/content_5567010.htm; Ministry of Civil Affairs of China (2025). Statistical Bulletin on Civil Affairs Development in 2024; citation details in entry 7.