Apostille Divorce Certificate UK

A Decree Nisi is a preliminary court order indicating that the court does not see any reason why a couple cannot be granted a divorce.

A Decree Nisi typically contains:

• • The court’s seal

• • Names of the petitioner and respondent

• • The date of the court order

• • A statement that the marriage will be dissolved in six weeks if neither party has raised an objection

• • Any important notes regarding finances and children

The literal meaning of Decree Nisi is “rule unless”. The intention is to provide a waiting period in case either party changes their mind. Parties can apply for a Decree Absolute six weeks and a day after a Decree Nisi has been issue

A decree absolute is the final order and legal document that ends a marriage in the UK. The decree absolute is necessary for divorce applications issued before 6 April 2022. In these cases, the decree absolute must be applied for, it is not automatically granted. Applications for a decree absolute should be made within twelve months of the application window that opens six weeks and one day after a decree nisi is granted.

A decree absolute document, commonly referred to as as a divorce certificate) is a single page document stating:

• The names of both parties
• The court that made the decree
• The case number
• The date and location of the marriage
• The fact that both parties are now legally separated

An apostilled divorce certificate is certified with an apostille stamp. The certificate and stamp ensure the decree nisi, or decree absolute is legally valid and recognised in the Hague Apostille Convention member countries. The apostille guarantees the document’s authenticity for use in international legal matters.

A wide variety of overseas authorities may request an apostille or other legalisation of a divorce certificate. Common foreign requesting authorities include government departments, solicitors, notaries, religious organisations, and immigration officials.

You may need to apostille a divorce certificate if you plan to use it in a foreign country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. This makes the document legally recognised in those member countries.

Reasons to apostille a divorce certificate:

• Remarrying abroad (decree absolute)
• Reverting to your maiden name e.g. changing passports overseas (decree absolute)
• Dealing with personal matters overseas

You may also need to provide an apostille for your divorce certificate if you were married overseas, have dual citizenship, were very recently divorced, or you or your ex-spouse is not a UK citizen by birth.

Please be aware that some foreign authorities might request additional documents related to you or your spouses current marital status to ensure that your divorce is valid, depending on the purpose at hand.

Your apostilled divorce certificate is likely to need further legalisation at an embassy or consulate if the requesting country is not part of the Hague Convention.

In the UK, you can get a divorce certificate apostilled through the Legalisation Office or FCDO-authorised service providers, such as Fatchett Legalisation. Our team is experienced in handling such requests, ensuring your document is processed efficiently and correctly.

In the UK, apostilles are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through its Legalisation Office. When issuing an apostille, the FCDO will affix a certificate to the original documents to show that the document and signatures are genuine. However, authorised service providers like Fatchett Legalisation can facilitate the process on your behalf, making it more convenient and often faster. For further assistance or to initiate the apostille process for your divorce certificate, please get in touch with Fatchett Legalisation. Our knowledgeable team is here to guide you through every step of the process.

We can arrange apostille for divorce certificates issued in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Apostille can be issued on an original decree absolute stamped sealed or signed by a court or an official of the court, an original decree absolute not stamped sealed or signed by an official of the court, a photocopy of your decree absolute, or a printout of an electronic copy of a decree absolute. However, all bar the original document will require solicitor certification or notarisation before submission to the FCDO.

The cost to apostille a divorce certificate can vary depending on the service provider and the urgency of the request. At Fatchett Legalisation, we offer competitive rates for apostille services. For detailed pricing, please contact our office or visit our website order form, where we regularly update our fee structure.

The time it takes to apostille a divorce certificate can vary. Typically, the process can take from a couple of working days to a couple of weeks, depending on the workload of the Legalisation Office. At Fatchett Legalisation, we offer expedited services to meet urgent requirements.

To obtain an apostille for a divorce certificate in the UK, follow these steps:

• Obtain a the original or certified copy of the divorce certificate.
• Submit the document to the Legalisation Office or authorised service, such as Fatchett Legalisation.
• Pay the necessary fees.
• Wait for the document to be processed and returned with the apostille.

At Fatchett Legalisation, we can streamline this process, ensuring your documents are handled correctly and efficiently.

Depending on the requesting authority and country your divorce certificate may require translation. Translation is most often required if your certificate is going to be used in some official legal way. Some authorities will require an apostille on the translated version too. So, please check with the requesting authority – they don’t always tell you that translation will be required!

An apostille is a certificate attached to your divorce certificate. It usually features a stamp or sticker and includes information such as the issuing country’s authentication, the identity of the official who signed the document, and the date of issue. It is designed to be easily recognisable by officials in foreign countries.

In the UK, apostilles are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through its Legalisation Office. When issuing an apostille, the FCDO will affix a certificate to the original documents to show that the document and signatures are genuine. However, authorised service providers like Fatchett Legalisation can facilitate the process on your behalf, making it more convenient and often faster. For further assistance or to initiate the apostille process for your divorce certificate, please get in touch with Fatchett Legalisation. Our knowledgeable team is here to guide you through every step of the process.

The FCDO will not issue an apostille certificate if the your original divorce document is not signed or sealed by the court, or signed by an official of the court. The FCDO will also reject photocopies or print outs of electronic copies that have not been certified or notarised by a UK solicitor or notary who has registered their signature with the FCDO.

The Hague Convention simplifies the process of certifying or legalising documents, such as a divorce certificate, for international use. An apostille certifies that a divorce certificate is authentic. The Hague Convention ensures that the apostille certification process is standardised across member countries. At Fatchett Legalisation, we understand the details and requirements for obtaining an apostille for your documents. Trust our service to handle the certification of your divorce certificate efficiently under the Hague Convention’s guidelines.

Countries outside of the Apostille Convention will not recognise an apostilled divorce certificate. As of July 2024, 127 states are contracting states of the Apostille Convention but Iran, Malaysia, and North Vietnam are not. Fatchett Legalisation can advise you on alternative methods of divorce certificate legalisation for non-contracting countries.