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.
Why You Need a Court Order
To be legally recognized, the foreign decree must undergo a process called Judicial Recognition of Foreign Divorce.
You must prove to a Philippine court that the divorce was validly obtained under the laws of the country where it was granted.
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.
A marriage between a Filipino and a foreign national where the foreign spouse initiates remarry after foreign divorce philippines the divorce.
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 remarry after foreign divorce philippines moment the divorce decree was issued.
The Legal Steps to Getting Remarried
Here is the typical roadmap remarry after foreign divorce philippines for legalizing your foreign divorce in the Philippines:
Engaging a competent lawyer is the first step in filing the necessary petition.
Prepare your documents, including the divorce certificate and an official copy of the foreign country's divorce laws.
Ensure all foreign-issued papers are properly Apostilled for legal use in the Philippines.
The court will hold hearings to verify the facts of your case.
Annotation: Once the remarry after foreign divorce philippines court grants the petition, you must register the decision with the PSA and the Local Civil Registrar.
Moving Forward
By securing a Judicial Recognition, you clear the path for a new beginning without any legal clouds hanging over your future.