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.
Why You Need a Court Order
This is a court process where a Philippine judge validates the foreign judgment.
This legal step is mandatory because Philippine courts do not automatically take "judicial notice" of foreign laws or foreign judgments.
Are You Eligible to Remarry?
This covers two main scenarios:
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.
It is crucial to check the citizenship status of both parties at the exact moment the divorce decree was issued.
Step-by-Step Process to Regain Capacity to Remarry
To ensure a smooth remarry after foreign divorce philippines transition to your new life, follow these general steps:
Engaging a competent lawyer is the first step in filing the necessary petition.
Gather Documents: You will need the remarry after foreign divorce philippines original or certified true copy of the foreign divorce decree, proof of the foreign divorce law, remarry after foreign divorce philippines and your marriage contract.
Authentication/Apostille: Foreign documents must be authenticated or remarry after foreign divorce philippines Apostilled in the country where they were issued to be admissible in Philippine courts.
Court Proceedings: Your lawyer will present evidence to prove the validity of the divorce.
Annotation: Once the court grants the petition, you must register the decision with the PSA and the Local Civil Registrar.
Final Thoughts
While the process may seem daunting, it is remarry after foreign divorce philippines the only legal way to ensure your next marriage is valid and protected under Philippine law.