Two Countries, One Divorce: What Carrie’s Story Reveals About Protecting Your Assets in Mexico

By German Brito | Certified Foreign Legal Consultant in Mexican Law | MexLawClinic

“My marriage is ending… and I don’t even know what happens to the house in Mexico,” Carrie said during our first meeting. Her voice was steady, but the concern was clear.

Carrie’s divorce case was filed in California. The attorneys were already exchanging documents, and the process was moving forward. But amid the legal paperwork and emotional stress, one issue stood unresolved — and dangerously overlooked: a property in Mexico that formed part of the family estate.

Carrie’s case isn’t rare. Many couples own property in Mexico, either as a vacation home, rental investment, or inherited asset. Yet few realize that during divorce, those foreign assets require specific legal attention and protective action — before final judgment is issued in California.

California Law Ends at the Border. Asset Protection Shouldn’t.

While California courts have authority to divide marital assets, they have no automatic power to enforce decisions over real estate in Mexico. Any ruling made here must go through a formal process in Mexico to be recognized and enforced under Mexican law.

But here’s where it gets even more important: without proper steps taken during the California divorce proceedings, that foreign property could remain legally vulnerable — its ownership unclear, its status unprotected, and your rights at risk.

Carrie Chose to Act — Before It Was Too Late

When Carrie reached out to MexLawClinic, she wasn’t just asking questions. She was taking a proactive step to secure her legal position.

She wanted to make sure that while her divorce case moved forward in California, her rights to the property in Mexico were preserved and protected — not left as an afterthought, or worse, exposed to loss or delay.

Together, we outlined a strategy grounded in Mexican law — one that complemented her California case, but addressed what U.S. courts couldn’t: how to safeguard her interest in Mexican assets before final judgment.

The Danger of Waiting

Many people assume they’ll “deal with the property in Mexico later.” But delay can have consequences. By the time a California judgment is issued, the window to prevent legal complications abroad may have narrowed — or closed altogether.

That’s why the most effective protection happens during divorce, not after.

What You Can Do — and Why MexLawClinic Can Help

If you’re in the middle of a divorce in California and know (or even suspect) that part of your marital estate is in Mexico, this is the time to take action.

At MexLawClinic, we specialize in advising California residents with legal interests in Mexico. I am a Certified Foreign Legal Consultant in Mexican Law by the State Bar of California, authorized and qualified to give you legal guidance on Mexican matters from right here, in California.

We provide clear, strategic counsel to help:

• Identify and evaluate Mexican assets

• Prevent unwanted transfers or legal disputes

• Position your California case to align with Mexican law

• Protect your ownership rights before and after judgment

Your divorce may be happening in California — but your assets don’t stop at the border. Neither should your legal protection.

Schedule your consultation with MexLawClinic today.

Because the best way to protect what’s yours… is before it’s gone.

Divorce from the United States in Mexico