Navigating the legalities of marriage and divorce in the Philippines can be complex, especially since the country remains one of the few in the world without a domestic divorce law.
While the Philippines does not have its own divorce law, it does recognize divorces obtained abroad under specific circumstances.
Why You Need a Court Order
This is a court process where a Philippine judge validates the foreign judgment.
You must prove to a Philippine court that the divorce was validly obtained under the laws of the country where it was granted.
Who Qualifies for This Process?
There are generally two situations where this applies:
A marriage between a Filipino and a foreign national where the foreign spouse initiates the divorce.
Naturalized Citizens: Where a former Filipino citizen becomes a naturalized citizen of another country and then remarry after foreign divorce philippines divorces their Filipino spouse.
It is crucial to check the citizenship status of both parties at the exact moment the divorce decree was issued.
How to Process Your Recognition of Foreign Divorce
The process can be time-consuming, usually remarry after foreign divorce philippines taking anywhere from several months to over a year, depending on the court's docket.
Engaging a remarry after foreign divorce philippines competent lawyer is the first step in filing the necessary petition.
remarry after foreign divorce philippines Prepare your documents, including the divorce certificate and an official copy remarry after foreign divorce philippines of the foreign country's divorce laws.
Authentication/Apostille: Foreign documents must be authenticated or Apostilled in the country where they were issued to be admissible in Philippine courts.
The court will hold hearings to verify the facts of your case.
Annotation: Once the court grants the petition, you must register the decision with the PSA and the Local Civil Registrar.
Final Thoughts
Remarrying after a foreign divorce in the Philippines is a journey that requires patience and legal expertise.