Reconigtion of Foreign Divorce

[jace5869 9]

Does anyone know a lawyer or someone I could use to help with the process of getting my foreign divorce recognized? I was married in the Philippines and had the divorce done in the US and I'm wanting to marry a Filipina and 've considered going to somewhere like Seychelles to get married instead of doing it in Philippines (Dumagette) to go around having to do this, but if there is a service I can use that will send my decree and get it done then I would like to do that so the entire ceremony can be done in the Philippines for the family.

[jace5869 9]

Oh this might be relevant, but I'm in Germany living and working with SOFA status and would bring her here and not filing for Visa immediately. A marriage certificate is good enough for a pass here as far as I know.

[Kby175 115]

This law firm says they handle these types of cases. 

 

https://deborjalaw.com/contact-us/

 

https://deborjalaw.com/8-steps-to-a-successful-judicial-recognition-of-divorce-in-the-philippines/ 

[aratamorne 165]

So I am sure those more knowledgeable will confirm, but as the US Citizen, I believe all you need to do is present your divorce decree at the US Embassy and they will issue you a free to marry certificate.  As a US Citizen, you do not present a CENOMAR and should not need an annulment.  I could be wrong though, I have only married one Pinay and that was K-1 although we did do the ROM after.  Now getting an appointment for the Free to Marry certificate at the Embassy right now may be another matter.

[Kby175 115]

1 hour ago, aratamorne said:

So I am sure those more knowledgeable will confirm, but as the US Citizen, I believe all you need to do is present your divorce decree at the US Embassy and they will issue you a free to marry certificate.  As a US Citizen, you do not present a CENOMAR and should not need an annulment.  I could be wrong though, I have only married one Pinay and that was K-1 although we did do the ROM after.  Now getting an appointment for the Free to Marry certificate at the Embassy right now may be another matter.

When I got married in 2017 even with my divorce decree I had to go to the NSO to get a CENOMAR, I was not married in the Philippines they just wanted to see if I had a record of being married in the Philippines. This is a newer requirement city hall wants Filipinos as well as expats to present a CENOMAR.  

 

When we went to the city hall I already had my legal capacity from the US Embassy.  

[jace5869 9]

10 hours ago, Kby175 said:

When I got married in 2017 even with my divorce decree I had to go to the NSO to get a CENOMAR, I was not married in the Philippines they just wanted to see if I had a record of being married in the Philippines. This is a newer requirement city hall wants Filipinos as well as expats to present a CENOMAR.  

 

When we went to the city hall I already had my legal capacity from the US Embassy.  

Does anything come back for a foreigner?

 

I asked two Filipino law firms and they told me that only the affidavit was required for me.

 

Just wondering if I should worry about the process or not, or just marry in a different country instead to bypass the CENOMAR.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

21 hours ago, jace5869 said:

Does anything come back for a foreigner?

 

I asked two Filipino law firms and they told me that only the affidavit was required for me.

 

Just wondering if I should worry about the process or not, or just marry in a different country instead to bypass the CENOMAR.

Many municipalities are requiring the CENOMAR now. So you fiance needs to figure what their municipality requires for Kanos. 

[Kby175 115]

On 3/11/2021 at 10:31 PM, jace5869 said:

Does anything come back for a foreigner?

 

I asked two Filipino law firms and they told me that only the affidavit was required for me.

 

Just wondering if I should worry about the process or not, or just marry in a different country instead to bypass the CENOMAR.

This could be a newer requirement within the last 3 to 5 years, legally you may only need to have the affidavit. But each province is different and seem to follow different rules.  Both city halls on Negros Occidental near my wife's place required both parties get the CENOMAR.  

 

Since I was married to a Filipina before, married here in the US we did report the marriage to the Philippine Embassy, my CENOMAR showed I was married to my ex-wife before but in the United States.  

 

You can see this blog post about the guy making the same mistake I made in step 3. 

 

https://travelbacolod.blogspot.com/2012/11/requirements-to-get-married-in.html

[jace5869 9]

I'm thinking it may be easier for us to fly to Seychelle's and get married. I'm reaching out to some Filipino lawyers to see if they handle registering the divorce. I have an Apostille from my state.

On the other hand, I've checked requirements for Cavite city and Dumaguete city and they both only list Affidavit for the foreigner. I'm trying to have her call and double check. Anyone had success in skipping the counselling? I know I was able to in Laguna my first time around.

 

[Kby175 115]

33 minutes ago, jace5869 said:

I'm thinking it may be easier for us to fly to Seychelle's and get married. I'm reaching out to some Filipino lawyers to see if they handle registering the divorce. I have an Apostille from my state.

On the other hand, I've checked requirements for Cavite city and Dumaguete city and they both only list Affidavit for the foreigner. I'm trying to have her call and double check. Anyone had success in skipping the counselling? I know I was able to in Laguna my first time around.

 

I have never heard of anyone able to skip the counseling that is part of the family planning the Philippine law requires. The ladies at the city hall said some of the expats started screaming at them about not needing to attend this part of the process.  

[jskibo 588]

On 3/13/2021 at 11:12 AM, jace5869 said:

I'm thinking it may be easier for us to fly to Seychelle's and get married. I'm reaching out to some Filipino lawyers to see if they handle registering the divorce. I have an Apostille from my state.

On the other hand, I've checked requirements for Cavite city and Dumaguete city and they both only list Affidavit for the foreigner. I'm trying to have her call and double check. Anyone had success in skipping the counselling? I know I was able to in Laguna my first time around.

 

It’s been a few years but we got married in Trece Martires (Cavite) and I only needed the embassy paper. Mayor did the ceremony as well.