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.
While the Philippines does not have its own divorce law, it does recognize divorces obtained abroad under specific circumstances.
The Essential Requirement: Judicial Recognition
To be legally recognized, the foreign decree must undergo a process called Judicial Recognition of Foreign Divorce.
This legal step is mandatory because Philippine courts do not automatically take "judicial notice" of foreign laws or foreign judgments.
Who Qualifies for This Process?
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 a foreigner, and the foreigner obtains a remarry after foreign divorce philippines valid divorce abroad.
Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship and subsequently divorced their spouse.
It is crucial to check the citizenship status of remarry after foreign divorce philippines both parties at the exact moment the divorce decree was issued.
How to Process Your Recognition of Foreign Divorce
To ensure a smooth remarry after foreign divorce philippines transition to your new life, follow these general steps:
Hire a Lawyer: remarry after foreign divorce philippines You will need a Philippine-based attorney to file a Petition for Judicial Recognition in the Regional Trial Court.
Gather Documents: You will need the original or certified true copy of the foreign divorce decree, proof of the foreign divorce law, and your marriage contract.
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.