If you are a Filipino citizen who has ended a marriage abroad, you might be wondering if you are legally free to wed again in your home country.
The short answer is: Yes, you can remarry, but it is not an automatic process.
Understanding Judicial Recognition of Foreign Divorce
To be legally recognized, the foreign decree must undergo a process called Judicial Recognition of Foreign Divorce.
Once the court issues a Finality of Judgment, you can then annotate your marriage record at the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Who Qualifies for This Process?
There are generally two situations where this applies:
Mixed Marriages: Where a Filipino is married to a foreigner, and the foreigner obtains a valid divorce abroad.
Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship and subsequently divorced their spouse.
Note: remarry after foreign divorce philippines If both parties were Filipino citizens at the time of the divorce, the Philippine government generally will not recognize the decree, even remarry after foreign divorce philippines if it was obtained in a foreign court.
The Legal Steps to Getting Remarried
The process can be time-consuming, usually taking anywhere from several months to over a year, depending on the court's docket.
Engaging a competent lawyer is the first step in filing the necessary petition.
Prepare your documents, including the divorce certificate and an official copy of the foreign country's divorce laws.
Authentication/Apostille: Foreign documents must be authenticated or Apostilled remarry after foreign divorce philippines 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 remarry after foreign divorce philippines court grants the petition, you must register the decision with the PSA and the Local Civil Registrar. remarry after foreign divorce philippines
Final Thoughts
By securing a Judicial Recognition, you clear the path for a new beginning without any legal clouds hanging over your future.