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
To be legally recognized, the foreign decree must undergo a process called Judicial Recognition of Foreign Divorce.
Once the court issues a Finality of Judgment, you can then annotate your marriage record at the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Eligibility for Remarriage After Foreign Divorce
This covers two main scenarios:
Mixed Marriages: Where a Filipino is married to a foreigner, and remarry after foreign divorce philippines the foreigner obtains a valid divorce abroad.
Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship and subsequently remarry after foreign divorce philippines divorced their spouse.
It is remarry after foreign divorce philippines 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
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 remarry after foreign divorce philippines 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.
Final Thoughts
Remarrying after a foreign divorce in the remarry after foreign divorce philippines Philippines is a journey that requires patience and legal expertise.