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.
The short answer is: Yes, you can remarry, but it is not an automatic process.
Understanding Judicial Recognition of Foreign Divorce
Many people mistakenly believe that simply presenting a foreign divorce decree at the Local Civil Registrar is enough to update their marital status.
Once the court issues a Finality of Judgment, you can then annotate your marriage record at the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Are You Eligible to Remarry?
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 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 remarry after foreign divorce philippines the exact moment the divorce decree was issued.
How to Process Your Recognition of Foreign Divorce
The process can be time-consuming, usually taking anywhere from several months to over a year, depending on the court's docket.
Engaging a competent lawyer is the first step in filing the necessary petition.
Gather Documents: You will need the original or certified true remarry after foreign divorce philippines copy of the foreign divorce decree, proof of the foreign divorce law, and your marriage contract.
Ensure all foreign-issued papers are properly Apostilled for legal use in the Philippines.
Court Proceedings: Your lawyer will remarry after foreign divorce philippines present remarry after foreign divorce philippines 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.
remarry after foreign divorce philippines Moving Forward
Remarrying after a foreign divorce in the Philippines is a journey that requires patience and legal expertise.