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.