Dutch firm creates ’Divorce Hotel’ service 荷蘭公司打造「離婚旅館」服務

Dutch firm creates ’Divorce Hotel’ service 
荷蘭公司打造「離婚旅館」服務
2012-07-21◎陳成良

A Dutch entrepreneur has offered couples the chance of a weekend away with a difference--by staying in a hotel where he will help them finalise their divorce.
荷蘭一位企業家提供夫婦一個不一樣的週末度假機會─藉由讓他們住進一家旅館，在那裡幫助他們完成離婚。

Jim Halfens’ ’Divorce Hotel’ allows pairs intent on breaking up to get quick divorces by staying for two days in their accommodation and coming out as two all-but-separated people.
吉姆．哈芬斯的「離婚旅館」讓那些下決心分手的夫婦在旅館裡待上兩天就能迅速離婚，當他們走出旅館時，已經是兩個不相干的人。

The Netherlands-based firm aim to talk couples through alimony, splitting assets, visitation rights for children and any other outstanding marital issues to help finalise a divorce.
這家荷蘭公司讓夫婦們對贍養費、財產分割、子女探視權和其他未解決的婚姻問題一一進行討論，目的是幫助他們達成離婚。

Their two-day process of drawing together documentation by having the two parties, lawyers, and mediators all in the same hotel for a weekend aims to quicken a process which can normally be drawn out for weeks or months.
在週末的兩天時間裡，夫婦雙方、律師和調解人都會在同一個旅館裡，一起起草文件，目的是加快離婚進度。離婚事宜通常要拖上幾週或幾個月才能辦完。

Once the divorcing couple leave the hotel at the end of their stay, the only thing left to do is show the agreement to a judge, as required in Dutch law, which can take a couple of weeks.
當要離婚的夫婦在週末結束、離開旅館時，他們要做的只剩下一件事，就是按荷蘭法律的規定，把離婚協議呈交給法官，過程通常需要幾週時間。

Mr Halfens is also looking to expand into other countries, suggesting that the USA and Germany could be next on the list.
哈芬斯也打算將業務擴展到其他國家，他指出，美國和德國可能是下一個目標地。

新聞辭典

intent on：片語，專心於；抱定決心要實行。例句：He is intent on his writing.（他一心一意地寫作。）

alimony：名詞，贍養費。例句：Are my alimony payments deductable?（我支付的贍養費可抵稅嗎？）

outstanding：形容詞，未解決的；未完成的；未償付的。例句：The outstanding debts must be paid by the end of the month.（未了的債務須在月底前償還。）