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
Many people mistakenly believe that simply presenting a foreign divorce decree at the Local Civil Registrar is enough to update their marital status.
You must prove to a Philippine court that the divorce was validly obtained under the laws of the country where it was granted.
Eligibility for Remarriage After Foreign Divorce
According to the Family Code, the primary condition for recognition is that one of the parties must be an alien (a non-Filipino citizen) at the time the divorce was obtained.
Mixed Marriages: Where a Filipino is married to remarry after foreign divorce philippines a foreigner, and the foreigner obtains a valid divorce abroad.
Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship and subsequently divorced their spouse.
It is crucial to check the citizenship status remarry after foreign divorce philippines of both parties at the exact moment the divorce decree was remarry after foreign divorce philippines issued.
Step-by-Step remarry after foreign divorce philippines Process to Regain Capacity to Remarry
Here is the typical roadmap for legalizing your foreign divorce in the Philippines:
Hire a Lawyer: You will need a Philippine-based attorney to file a Petition for Judicial Recognition in the Regional Trial Court.
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 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.
Moving Forward
Remarrying after remarry after foreign divorce philippines a foreign divorce in the Philippines is a journey that requires patience and legal expertise.