Panic! Certified Copy of Divorce Decree

[MrMath 1]

I'm leaving for Manila on Wednesday to get married. I need to bring a certified copy of my divorce decree. I'm panicking now, that I might not know exactly what I need.

I have: A judgement of dissolution (California), as well as a notice of entry of judgement.

It is stamped "Filed" in color by the court clerk.

Is this what I need?

Thanks!

[MrMath 1]

FYI This is for the affidavit in lieu of certificate of legal capacity to marry

[EAbbas 213]

I'm leaving for Manila on Wednesday to get married. I need to bring a certified copy of my divorce decree. I'm panicking now, that I might not know exactly what I need.

I have: A judgement of dissolution (California), as well as a notice of entry of judgement.

It is stamped "Filed" in color by the court clerk.

Is this what I need?

Thanks!

No you need more...I went to the courthouse and got mine within a few minutes. Cost of 20 dollars. Tell them you need a certified copy for immigration purposes. They gave me the stamped copy of the judgment AND a paper on top with a gold seal signed by 3 judges stating that this was a certified copy. Takes just a few minutes to get if you go right away. (or should)

and congrats

Edited May 24, 2011 by EAbbas

[Tim/Mav 305]

No you need more...I went to the courthouse and got mine within a few minutes. Cost of 20 dollars. Tell them you need a certified copy for immigration purposes. They gave me the stamped copy of the judgment AND a paper on top with a gold seal signed by 3 judges stating that this was a certified copy. Takes just a few minutes to get if you go right away. (or should)

and congrats

BS. 3 Judges. OMG! The dissolution of Marridge is a Document with a Seal (Just Stamped in most cases and dated) Signed by the County Clerk who was authorized by Court records with a Single Judges Signature. The Divorce Decree will state:

Date of Dirvoce, separation of Assets, A SEAL or Stamp. In my case: the Judge signed it.

There is such a thing as TRUE COPY At your Courthouse and thats what you need. Not a Copy. There is no Such thing as Certified because it is already signed by a Judge.

[MrMath 1]

Thank You EAbbas!

[EAbbas 213]

BS. 3 Judges. OMG! The dissolution of Marridge is a Document with a Seal (Just Stamped in most cases and dated) Signed by the County Clerk who was authorized by Court records with a Single Judges Signature. The Divorce Decree will state:

Date of Dirvoce, separation of Assets, A SEAL or Stamp. In my case: the Judge signed it.

There is such a thing as TRUE COPY At your Courthouse and thats what you need. Not a Copy. There is no Such thing as Certified because it is already signed by a Judge.

Yes but I sent my true copy as well but in some cases the embassy requires more than just that. I have that sent that to USCIS but I didnt want an RFE at NVC OR at the time of interview so i played it safer and just asked the court exactly what was needed. It isn't BS either...it was a letter on top of the true copy of the court decree signed by the judge but the paper on top was stating that this was true information....signed by the judges etc....so what If I asked more specific questions than you don't criticize my extra effort for making sure every document was right. so what I if i went a step farther...ive seen ppl with these simple signed true copies get RFE or worse ...i didnt want that...it was MY choice to get the right certified copy for embassy...that's what I asked for when I obtained it...that's what I received.

[MrMath 1]

Thanks Tim/Mav...mine has all those things (refers to the marriage settlement for separation of assets, etc). It is "signed" by a stamped name (not signature) of the judge, and there is a blue and red "filed" stamp in a court use only box.

I just called the consulate, and the man there said it sounds okay. I'll call the court in the morning also, to see if there is something else they might provide. I fear getting turned down 6000 miles from the document I need

[EAbbas 213]

Thanks Tim/Mav...mine has all those things (refers to the marriage settlement for separation of assets, etc). It is "signed" by a stamped name (not signature) of the judge, and there is a blue and red "filed" stamp in a court use only box.

I just called the consulate, and the man there said it sounds okay. I'll call the court in the morning also, to see if there is something else they might provide. I fear getting turned down 6000 miles from the document I need

Im sure it really depends upon the embassy/country as far as documents you need. But you're right...get the proper documentation before you go even if you go overboard at least you know you're playing it safe...good luck...

[Tim/Mav 305]

Thanks Tim/Mav...mine has all those things (refers to the marriage settlement for separation of assets, etc). It is "signed" by a stamped name (not signature) of the judge, and there is a blue and red "filed" stamp in a court use only box.

I just called the consulate, and the man there said it sounds okay. I'll call the court in the morning also, to see if there is something else they might provide. I fear getting turned down 6000 miles from the document I need

I think your fine. Official Document with a Seal and ORIGINAL from the Courthouse . I'm well aware of that 6000 mile trip. While your there at the Courthouse ask the Clerk if she can Page 3 Judges to Notorize the Decree of Dissolution. :rofl:

[EAbbas 213]

I think your fine. Official Document with a Seal and ORIGINAL from the Courthouse . I'm well aware of that 6000 mile trip. While your there at the Courthouse ask the Clerk if she can Page 3 Judges to Notorize the Decree of Dissolution. :rofl:

You know...your out of line...im telling him information he should know and your turning it out like im lying...im not..i went to the courthouse got the paper your talking about AND a paper on top for embassy purposes..im trying to be helpful by giving my experience and informatin that I know...and your being critical and ridicoulous...

[Tim/Mav 305]

Yes but I sent my true copy as well but in some cases the embassy requires more than just that. I have that sent that to USCIS but I didnt want an RFE at NVC OR at the time of interview so i played it safer and just asked the court exactly what was needed. It isn't BS either...it was a letter on top of the true copy of the court decree signed by the judge but the paper on top was stating that this was true information....signed by the judges etc....so what If I asked more specific questions than you don't criticize my extra effort for making sure every document was right. so what I if i went a step farther...ive seen ppl with these simple signed true copies get RFE or worse ...i didnt want that...it was MY choice to get the right certified copy for embassy...that's what I asked for when I obtained it...that's what I received.

Understand you. Better to have whatever you think needed. When I went to the Philipphines there was No Toilet Paper.

Mr. Whimple was there and said: Please don't Squeeze the Charmin. LOL

[Tim/Mav 305]

You know...your out of line...im telling him information he should know and your turning it out like im lying...im not..i went to the courthouse got the paper your talking about AND a paper on top for embassy purposes..im trying to be helpful by giving my experience and informatin that I know...and your being critical and ridicoulous...

I'm not going to Argue with you. It was advice for the OP. Yours sucked.

[Ban Hammer 13,400]

let's cease the bickering please and stick to the topic.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

You know...your out of line...im telling him information he should know and your turning it out like im lying...im not..i went to the courthouse got the paper your talking about AND a paper on top for embassy purposes..im trying to be helpful by giving my experience and informatin that I know...and your being critical and ridicoulous...

North Carolina is not California. Each state has it's system for managing marriage and divorce records. I live in California, and if I went to the courthouse where my divorce was granted and asked for a judge (or three) to sign my divorce decree to "certify" it then he would either laugh at me or look at me like I was from Mars. However, what you say may very well be possible, and may even be the correct process in North Carolina - I don't know because I don't live there.

In most California counties, the only judge who signs a divorce decree is the one who grants the divorce, and they only sign it at the time the divorce is granted. That original document goes into the court's records, and a copy of it is sent to the California Department of Public Health, Vital Records division. The custodian of that original signed document is the court clerk. A certified copy is a copy produced by the court clerk from the original copy, and stamped and signed by the court clerk as being an authentic copy of the original.

In California you can also ask for a Certificate of Record from the California Department of Public Health. However, that's not a certified copy of the divorce decree. They can't produce a certified copy because they don't have the original document.

[san diego 407]

I just had a copy of judge decree, and this is what I submitted. Did not have a problem.