A divorce certificate proves that a marriage has been legally dissolved, and that is exactly the fact you have to prove to a foreign authority when you remarry, apply for a spouse visa, move abroad with a child or divide property. The document is often accompanied by a court judgment that sets out the terms of child support, the child's place of residence and the division of property. Translating both documents demands legal precision: one inexact term changes who has which right. Our bureau in Tbilisi, on Davit Aghmashenebeli Avenue, translates divorce documents into every major language and notarizes them.
Divorce certificate and court judgment: what the difference is
In Georgia a divorce is formalised in one of two ways. If the spouses agree and have no minor children, the marriage is dissolved at the Public Service Hall and a divorce certificate is issued directly. If there is a dispute, or questions of children, child support and property are being settled, the divorce is formalised by a court judgment, on the basis of which the Public Service Hall then issues the certificate. For a foreign authority this difference matters:
- Remarriage, visa, restoring a surname: in most countries the divorce certificate with an apostille and a translation is enough, often together with a certificate of marital status.
- Child support, the child's place of residence, property: a full translation of the court judgment is needed, because the terms are only in it.
- Taking a child abroad permanently: a court judgment on the place of residence or the other parent's notarized consent, as the destination country requires.
- The United Kingdom and Ireland: they often ask precisely for the court judgment (the equivalent of a decree absolute) and not the certificate.
What we pay attention to when translating
Terminology that defines rights
"Dissolution of marriage", "annulment", "child support", "custody", "determination of the place of residence", "contact arrangements", "joint property" and "compensation" each correspond to a specific concept in every legal system. Our legal translators use the equivalent established in the target jurisdiction (for example child custody and child support in English, Sorgerecht and Unterhalt in German) and, where needed, add a note explaining the specifics of the Georgian institution, so that a foreign judge or official reads the document correctly.
Surnames before and after the divorce
On divorce one of the spouses often takes back the pre-marriage surname. The certificate shows both surnames, and in the translation they must be written so that they match the passport and the translation of the marriage certificate. If a new passport has not been obtained yet, we use the same transliteration rule that was in the old passport.
Dates and details
A divorce certificate has two important dates: the date the marriage was dissolved (the court judgment entering into force or registration in the register) and the date the certificate was issued. It is the first one that determines from when you may remarry, so both dates, the record number, the name of the court and the case number are carried over unchanged and clearly.
Apostille and certification
A divorce certificate is a civil status document and the apostille on it is placed by the Public Service Hall or the Public Service Development Agency. A court judgment is a court document: first you obtain from the court registry a certified copy with a note that it has entered into force, then the Ministry of Justice places the apostille on it. In both cases the rule is the same: first the apostille, then the translation together with the apostille, finally the notarization. For Italy, Spain and Portugal a second apostille is placed on the translation as well. The full scheme is described on the personal documents page; we arrange the whole process through one window.
Foreign divorce documents in Georgian
If the divorce was formalised abroad, the foreign document is translated into Georgian for remarriage in Georgia or for updating the entry in the register. We translate the German Scheidungsurteil, the British decree absolute and final order, the American divorce decree, Turkish, Italian, Spanish, Ukrainian and Russian documents. Many countries do not issue a separate divorce certificate and only the court judgment exists; in that case it is the judgment that is translated in full, with the apostille and the note on entry into force. If the Public Service Hall requires recognition of the foreign court judgment, we tell you in advance.
Typical cases
- Remarriage abroad. The divorce certificate with an apostille and a translation, a certificate of marital status, a birth certificate. All three as one package, with one transliteration.
- Moving abroad with a child. The court judgment on the child's place of residence, the child support part, where needed the other parent's consent; the immigration service and the school often ask for both.
- Enforcing child support abroad. A full translation of the court judgment together with the writ of execution, with exact amounts and deadlines.
- Visa or residence with a new spouse. The immigration service asks for a document proving that the previous marriage was dissolved, so that the new marriage is recognised as valid.
What a translation of the court judgment contains
A court judgment on divorce consists of three parts, and each is needed for a different purpose. The introductory part (the court, the judge, the parties, the case number) confirms the authenticity of the document; the descriptive and reasoning part explains why and on what terms the marriage was dissolved; the operative part contains what the authority is actually interested in: the date of dissolution, the child's place of residence, the amount and payment terms of child support, the division of property, the question of surnames. Some authorities accept a translation of the operative part only, as an extract, others require the full document. We confirm in advance which option will do, because the full judgment is often two or three times as many pages.
In the translation the case number, dates, amounts with the currency stated and the children's names according to their birth certificates stay unchanged; the note on entry into force and the court seals are described separately, because they are what establishes that the judgment is final and no longer subject to appeal.
Mistakes that get divorce documents rejected
- A certificate where a judgment is needed. In child support or child matters the certificate contains no terms and the authority asks for an additional document.
- A judgment without the note on entry into force. Such a copy is not final for a foreign authority and no apostille will be placed on it.
- A restored surname that does not match the passport. The transliteration must always follow the passport rule.
- Translation before the apostille. As with every civil status document, here too the apostille comes first.
Turnaround
A divorce certificate with notarization is ready within one working day. A court judgment is usually 3-10 pages and is translated in one to three days. Documents can be delivered as a scan or at the office, and collected at the office, by courier or electronically.
Frequently asked questions
Is the certificate enough, or do I also need to translate the court judgment?
For remarriage and a visa the certificate is enough in most countries. In matters of child support, the child's place of residence or property the court judgment is translated too, because it is the judgment that contains the terms.
Does a divorce certificate need an apostille?
For Hague Convention countries, as a rule, yes. The apostille on the certificate is placed at the Public Service Hall, on the court judgment at the Ministry of Justice, before translation.
Is a divorce formalised abroad valid in Georgia?
The foreign divorce document with an apostille is translated into Georgian and submitted to the Public Service Hall to be entered in the register. In some cases a procedure for recognising the court judgment is needed, which we tell you in advance.
How long does the translation take?
The certificate with notarization within one working day. A multi-page court judgment usually one to three days, depending on its length.