What is a "certified copy" of divorce decree?

[HandA 2]

Hello Vjers,

I read some conflicting notes about what the counsular needs regarding a divorce decree. I am a USC petitioner and my finace CO is Egypt. I have been divorced for 7 years and all I have a copy of the divorce decree. VSC just sent us our NOA2 but I heard the CO in Egypt requests for a "certified copy of divorce decree." What do I have to send my fiancee for her interview? And what do they mean by "certified copy"?

You assitance is very much apprecaited.

HandA

[VanessaTony 3,567]

A certified copy is a copy of a document that has been certified as a true and correct copy of the original. In some cases you have to go to the original issuing agency to get one and others you're allows to have a notary sign of on it.

Here is a definition and also list that shows which states permit notarys to certify it as true and correct copy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certified_copy

** moving from "K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports" to "K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures" as the prior forum is for case updates/progress and this one is for questions**

Edited March 2, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[Audy_Rob 26]

I read some conflicting notes about what the counsular needs regarding a divorce decree. I am a USC petitioner and my finace CO is Egypt. I have been divorced for 7 years and all I have a copy of the divorce decree. VSC just sent us our NOA2 but I heard the CO in Egypt requests for a "certified copy of divorce decree." What do I have to send my fiancee for her interview? And what do they mean by "certified copy"?

I had to do this as well. Some "copies" of your divorce decree might not have the Official seal of the county plus something that represents the judges signature.

I went in person to the court house for the county I was divorced in. They have the records. The man looked up my records, printed out 4 copies, then he stamped them with a large purple seal of the County, then he signed it as a court officer.

You need to do this. It cannot be an unsigned or unsealed copy of the divorce decree. I got 4 copies of the certified so I could have extras.

Good luck

[~Johnny~ 27]

It's an official stamped version from your state and court that held the divorce. I had to get one too as I only had a copy of the court divorce decree. You can get a certified divorce certificate from this site if your state/county participates.

http://www.vitalrec.com/

But warning.....I paid $49 for mine but, you can likely get cheaper by just going directly to county clerk office.

Edited March 2, 2010 by duplantisjj

[Otto 83]

Unless you have one laying around, you'll need to go to your Clerk's office (or whichever issuing agency in the state you got divorced in) and get one - The clerk will stamp it as certified. That is what you'll need.

In my case, I stuck one of those sticky-arrows on, pointing at the line(s) where the divorce is final so they wouldn't have any trouble finding it in all the legal mumbo jumbo.

[Bernie C 24]

Take this for what it is worth - this has been discussed numerous times.

A Certified Copy of a Divorce Decree is only obtainable from the Courthouse where the original resides.

The Certified Copy will not have a "stamp". Stamps in most places are not acceptable when a Certified Copy is requested. (may be obtainable from some states through a service but you'll likely pay dearly for it and it still comes from the original holder).

Most times when a Certified Copy is requested they are looking for the copy with the "Official Seal".

So what is the difference?

When you request a Certified Copy - it will be exactly that - a photocopy of the original that is on file there.

However, they will affix a sticker to the document (otherwise known as the seal). But wait, its still not an official Certified Copy yet.

After the "Seal" is affixed, the Clerk of Records will then take a device that looks like a big pair of flat sided plyers and put it over the "seal" and squeeze. This will leave the "Official Imprint" of the governing body on the seal. You can usually tell the difference because on this you can feel the impression on the paper.

A copy with just a stamp is just a copy. Without the "seal" with the imbedded impression on it it is just and always will be a copy (Not a Certified Copy).

I've been down this road, I went to the courthouse, and I requested and got the Certified Copy.

I'm not trying to be sarcastic or anything, just trying to explain it in detail with clarity. Its better to go through the trouble to get the "real deal" than to send a "copy" and get an RFE.

Even though some claim that you can get a copy notarized and have it be considered a Certified Copy, I wouldnt go that route. You can get documents notarized almost anywhere, but you can only get a True Certified Copy of a Divorce Decree in one place.

Good Luck and Best Wishes along your journey!!! Hang in there!

[TheBears 9]

The certified copy of my divorce decree came from the courthouse where the divorce was finalized. It has a raised seal (like they do on birth certificates and marriage licenses) for the county we divorced in, and has an extra page attached at the end stating that the previous 30+ pages are a true and accurate copy of the county's records.

Check at the secretary of state for your state's website. They'll have guidelines about what can and cannot be notarized and what does and does not constitute a certified copy for that state.

[~Johnny~ 27]

The certified copy of my divorce decree came from the courthouse where the divorce was finalized. It has a raised seal (like they do on birth certificates and marriage licenses) for the county we divorced in, and has an extra page attached at the end stating that the previous 30+ pages are a true and accurate copy of the county's records.

Check at the secretary of state for your state's website. They'll have guidelines about what can and cannot be notarized and what does and does not constitute a certified copy for that state.

I never got the "divorce certifciate" when I was divorced. Just a court signed copy of the decree. I ordered the official divorce certificate, which looks really nice as you described.. It's embossed and has seals and looks like something you want to frame and put on the wall...like uhhh diploma or something....

Edited March 2, 2010 by duplantisjj

[TheBears 9]

Heck, yeah! Slap that puppy on the wall. And thank your ex while you're at it. If you were still legally bound to them, then you wouldn't be able to be with your current love.

But no. My state doesn't have certificates. It has 30+ pages of Petitioner this and Respondant that with an embossed seal in the bottom right corner of each page. I wish it had certificates because I had the pleasure of translating the whole decree before the district office in Thailand would register my marriage.

[Audy_Rob 26]

Even though some claim that you can get a copy notarized and have it be considered a Certified Copy, I wouldnt go that route. You can get documents notarized almost anywhere, but you can only get a True Certified Copy of a Divorce Decree in one place.

This doesn't make sense. I highly doubt you could get it notarized as the notarization is an authorized person (notary public) witnessing the signature put on the document. There is usually not a signature being put on, although in my case the court officer did sign it, there wasn't anyone around to witness the signature therefore it cannot be notarized.

You can take it out of the courthouse to get it notarized, but then the notary public will not notarize it as they did not witness the signature.

Reading this site I have come to realize notaries and notarization has to be one of the most misunderstood concepts in the USA.

[~Johnny~ 27]

This doesn't make sense. I highly doubt you could get it notarized as the notarization is an authorized person (notary public) witnessing the signature put on the document. There is usually not a signature being put on, although in my case the court officer did sign it, there wasn't anyone around to witness the signature therefore it cannot be notarized.

You can take it out of the courthouse to get it notarized, but then the notary public will not notarize it as they did not witness the signature.

Reading this site I have come to realize notaries and notarization has to be one of the most misunderstood concepts in the USA.

Yeah, I see it misused a few time here on VJ. A notary is only an official witness that the person who signs a document IS the person that signed the document AT the time of signing. Doesn't do any good for example in the case of a 10 yr old divorce document. It must be Certified, in this case, Certified means that the state or county has certifed the document to be true and legal, and usually has a state seal or stamp.

[tom&tanya 48]

Yeah, I see it misused a few time here on VJ. A notary is only an official witness that the person who signs a document IS the person that signed the document AT the time of signing. Doesn't do any good for example in the case of a 10 yr old divorce document. It must be Certified, in this case, Certified means that the state or county has certifed the document to be true and legal, and usually has a state seal or stamp.

Here in Palm Beach County Florida a certified copy has no raised seal. It only has the stamp of the clerk of courts and a signature of the clerk. It looks very " unofficial " but thta's all you will get here!

[SuperDuper! 230]

OP FYI: Get 3 copies when you go to the courthouse or online to order it. You will be glad you did.

You are the best!

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

A copy with just a stamp is just a copy. Without the "seal" with the imbedded impression on it it is just and always will be a copy (Not a Certified Copy).

Not all Clerk's use the old-fashioned embossing device.

USCIS understands this.

[Manny&G 1]

Not all Clerk's use the old-fashioned embossing device.

USCIS understands this.

NVC just sent my case to the Consulate (Skopje Macedonia) and i was reading this post, i decided to to check my divorce decree. (Texas does not give divorce certificates).

My final decree has a stamp and a signature from the judge and court house. My only concern is my signature, my ex-wife's signature and my attorney's signature are not the original signatures. I was overseas when my divorce took place and my attorney emailed me and my ex-wife all the documents, we signed them and emailed back to her (attorney)so when she finally put the final decree together all she had was copies of the documents with signatures. The judge's signature and the courthouse stamp/seal are original. Please advice me if you think this is going to be OK or not. By the way, I'm still overseas and it's going to be very difficult to obtain another copy of the decree with all original signatues.