When a once beautiful marriage becomes a set of chains, when happiness has reached its end, and the vows you once made turn into shackles — have you ever found yourself, time and again, considering divorce because of differences in lifestyle, disagreements over child-rearing, strained in-law relationships, or other issues, yet felt stuck because both you and your spouse couldn’t agree on ending the marriage?

In such cases, “Divorce Planning” can be your solution. If your spouse hasn’t done anything that would legally justify a divorce, it can be very difficult to file for one. So what exactly is “divorce planning”? Can a detective agency really arrange a divorce for you? How much does divorce planning cost?

Today, with years of experience, Yitong Investigation Agency will walk you through the process.

What is Divorce Planning or a Packaged Divorce?

Generally speaking, there are two types of divorce:

• Mutual Consent Divorce:

  As the name suggests, both spouses must agree to divorce. After signing a divorce agreement, they submit it to the local household registration office.

• Court-Adjudicated Divorce:

  When one spouse refuses to agree to divorce, but the other meets one of the conditions for divorce specified in civil law, they can file a lawsuit with the court to dissolve the marriage.

Most people who seek help with divorce planning are in situations where their spouse refuses to agree to divorce, trapping them in an unhappy marriage. In these cases, the spouse who wants to leave often turns to a detective agency for a “Packaged Divorce” service — which involves evidence collection and scenario design to ensure the uncooperative partner meets the legal conditions for divorce, enabling the court to grant it and freeing the client from the marriage.

Who is Divorce Planning Suitable For? Could I Be Targeted for a Planned Divorce by a Third Party?

Based on our past cases, most clients who approach us for a packaged divorce have reached the point where they can no longer endure their marriage. Their relationship is devoid of happiness and is often made worse by the spouse’s bad habits, incompatible values, or in-law conflicts, which sometimes make daily life unbearable. These are the most common types of cases we handle.

But what if a third party, such as a new romantic interest, hires a detective agency to orchestrate a divorce between their partner and their partner’s spouse? Would the agency take on the case?

This question touches on both social ethics and basic morality. At Yitong, we conduct thorough consultations before accepting such cases to ensure the target couple is indeed trapped in an unhappy marriage. Our investigators will also personally verify the situation before officially accepting the assignment.

When Happiness Starts to Crack and Marriage Turns Into a Nightmare — Consider Breaking Free: Escaping an Unhappy Marriage

How Does a Detective Agency Plan a Divorce? Common ‘Packaged Divorce’ Strategies Revealed

Divorce planning is much like carefully designing a trap out of thin air. Before understanding the specific strategies used, it's important to understand the conditions for filing a divorce lawsuit under Taiwan’s Civil Code.

If you're determined to divorce, you must meet at least one of the following conditions to file a case in court:

• Bigamy
• Adultery
• Abuse by one spouse, making cohabitation intolerable
• Abuse of or by direct lineal relatives to the extent that cohabitation becomes impossible
• Malicious desertion
• Attempted murder of the spouse
• Incurable serious disease
• Severe, incurable mental illness
• Being missing for over three years
• Being sentenced to more than six months’ imprisonment due to an intentional crime

Additionally, if there are other serious reasons beyond the above, which make it difficult to maintain the marriage, the innocent party may request a divorce.

Given this legal framework, a detective agency’s divorce planning will be designed to align with one or more of these conditions.

One of the most common strategies involves introducing a third party if the spouse doesn't already have one, and creating opportunities for the target to engage in inappropriate behavior, which can then be documented as evidence. Alternatively, staged situations may be set up to provoke physical or emotional harm to the client, providing grounds for divorce.

These scenarios create marital cracks and open room for argument in court.

How Much Does Divorce Planning Cost? Pricing Depends on Difficulty Level

Detective agencies typically categorize divorce planning cases into three levels based on complexity. Because each situation is unique, costs and timelines vary depending on the number of investigators and the strategies required. Before proceeding, you should sign a contract with the agency to safeguard your interests.

Here’s a general outline of the difficulty levels and corresponding starting prices:

• Level A Cases:

  The simplest, most cost-effective cases. Usually, the spouse is already somewhat willing to divorce, but disputes over custody, property division, or alimony are holding up the process.

• Level B Cases:

  These involve situations where the spouse is unwilling to divorce but has a history of infidelity or domestic violence, which helps strengthen the case in court.

• Level C Cases:

  The most difficult type. When the spouse shows no willingness to divorce and has committed no wrongdoing, elaborate scenarios must be designed, making these cases complex and challenging.

How Should Mortgage Loans Be Handled After Divorce?

Divorce isn’t as simple as a breakup. Financial arrangements, especially regarding mortgage loans, must be carefully planned beforehand. This can be analyzed from two perspectives:

• How is the mortgage counted in marital property division?
• Are you a borrower or a co-signer?

Let’s break it down:

To calculate how the mortgage affects the division of assets, you must first understand the basic principle: when divorcing, each spouse’s net post-marital assets are calculated, and the difference is split equally. In this case, the party with more assets will compensate the other.

Example Scenario:

Xiaolan and Conan are married and bought a house together after marriage. Conan is the owner and primary borrower, and Xiaolan is the guarantor. After ten years, they decide to divorce. Their assets are as follows:

• Conan: NT$5 million (including the house’s value)
• Xiaolan: NT$10 million
• Outstanding mortgage: NT$7 million

Both sides want the mortgage debt to be counted under their own name to reduce their share of marital assets during division. Here’s how it would play out:

• If the mortgage is counted as Xiaolan’s debt:

  Xiaolan’s assets = 10M - 7M = 3M.
  Division formula: (5M - 3M) / 2 = NT$1M.
  Xiaolan can claim NT$1 million from Conan.

• If the mortgage is counted as Conan’s debt:

  Conan’s assets = 5M - 7M = negative (treated as zero in the division).
  Division formula: (10M - 0) / 2 = NT$5M.
  Conan can claim NT$5 million from Xiaolan.

So who the NT$7 million debt is attributed to becomes a key issue.

Two Possible Scenarios:

• If Conan continues making payments:

  According to Article 739 of the Civil Code, the guarantor (Xiaolan) is only liable if the borrower (Conan) defaults. If Conan pays on time, Xiaolan isn’t liable, so the debt is considered Conan’s.

• If Conan stops paying:

  Let’s assume Conan stopped paying five months before the divorce, and Xiaolan, after being contacted by the bank and worried about her credit, pays NT$500,000 to cover the missed payments.

Under Article 749 of the Civil Code, Xiaolan, having paid as guarantor, assumes Conan’s debt to the extent she paid. Therefore, the calculation would be:

• Conan’s assets = NT$5M - NT$7M = 0 (treated as zero).
• Xiaolan’s assets = NT$10M.

So: (10M - 0) / 2 = NT$5M. Since Xiaolan already covered NT$500K, Conan is entitled to only NT$4.5M from Xiaolan.

How to Remove Yourself as a Mortgage Co-Signer Before Divorce

Being a co-signer essentially makes you equally liable for the debt. If Conan defaults after the divorce, the bank can pursue Xiaolan for payment, including deductions from her wages if necessary.

The law does not require the bank to chase the primary borrower first, meaning that even after divorce, the co-signer’s liability doesn’t disappear.

That’s why Yitong Investigation Agency strongly recommends negotiating with your spouse before finalizing the divorce to replace the co-signer and submit an application to the bank. Once approved, your liability will be lifted.

(Beyond mortgages, don’t forget to carefully plan other financial matters before divorce: How is alimony calculated? Understanding the rules will help you prepare for life after separation.)

Let Yitong Investigation Agency Handle Your Divorce Planning — Helping You Break Free from a Shackled Marriage

When love has long vanished from a marriage, and wedding rings have become chains binding two mismatched souls, it’s time to seek help. Our “Packaged Divorce” service can help. No one is flawless — we can create scenarios to lure your spouse into leaving evidence of infidelity or wrongdoing, giving you the upper hand in court.

With 40 years of experience, Yitong Investigation Agency not only provides divorce planning services but also professional legal consultation to assist with all post-divorce matters, including asset division, mortgage handling, child custody, child support, and alimony.

If you have related needs, feel free to contact us.