Translation of a divorce certificate: this is how it works

Any marriage that has been entered into before a registry office can be dissolved by divorce. In some countries, you do not need a lawyer for this and a court can make a legally valid decision. A divorce certificate is issued after the divorce decree has been announced and it acts as proof where needed for official procedures such naturalisation or a new marriage.

The difference between a divorce decree and a divorce certificate

A judge announces a divorce decree at the end of a hearing. As is usual with court rulings, the divorce can be challenged, so the court will only issue the divorce certificate when the designated time period to contest the divorce has elapsed.

If neither spouse contests the divorce, the judgment is immediately legally binding and this is also noted in the judgment. Both spouses receive the judgment after the divorce hearing. The divorce certificate is usually issued automatically after the contestation period has expired. Further copies of divorce certificates can be reissued on request.

When is a certified translation of the divorce certificate necessary?

Copies of the document are often accepted as proof of a divorce if the original can be presented when requested. If, on the other hand, the divorce certificate is to be used abroad as proof or a foreign document needs to be presented domestically, a certified translation is usually necessary. Since a divorce certificate is an official document, and depending on the country, a sworn translator needs to do the translation or you need a notarised certification of the translation.

Certified translations do not only contain the translator's signature, but also their stamp or a seal. In some countries, a consulate signature is also required. For example, in Germany, Spain and France, the execution of a sworn translator is usually sufficient, whereas in the UK, Portugal, Switzerland and some other countries, a notarised document is often needed.

What does a divorce certificate translation cost?

The costs for translating a divorce certificate varying according to:

• Text volume
• Language combination
• Desired delivery time

You can quickly receive a quote for costs and delivery times via our free online form.

Our tip:

To reduce the costs of a certified translation, it is worth asking the authority whether a translation of the partial version of the divorce decree is sufficient or whether the certified full version of the document is necessary.

Do you want to have a divorce certificate translated?

Foreign authorities require you to get your divorce papers translated primarily so they can agree to a remarriage. However, a translation may also be necessary for other reasons, such as agreements regarding joint custody of children or assets, or to recognise name changes.

Our translation agency works with notaries or sworn translators who are authorised to issue certified translations. So that we can provide you with an accurate quotation, we need information from you such as the source and target language required, and the country for which the translation is to be made.

FAQ on translating divorce certificates