For many Filipinos, the dream of a second chance at love often hits a legal roadblock known as the "foreign divorce" rule.
The short answer is: Yes, you can remarry, but it is not an automatic process.
The Essential Requirement: Judicial Recognition
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).
Are You Eligible to Remarry?
This covers two main scenarios:
Mixed Marriages: Where a Filipino is married to a foreigner, and the foreigner obtains a valid divorce abroad.
Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship and subsequently divorced their spouse.
Note: If both parties were Filipino citizens at the time of the divorce, the Philippine remarry after foreign divorce philippines government generally will not recognize the decree, even if remarry after foreign divorce philippines it was obtained in a foreign court.
The Legal Steps remarry after foreign divorce philippines to Getting Remarried
To ensure a smooth transition to your new life, follow these general steps:
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 remarry after foreign divorce philippines to verify the facts of your case.
After winning the case, the final step is updating your marriage certificate with a "divorced" annotation.
Conclusion
By securing a Judicial Recognition, you clear the path for a new beginning without any remarry after foreign divorce philippines legal clouds hanging over your future.