For many Filipinos, the dream of a second chance at love often hits a legal roadblock known as the "foreign divorce" rule.
Under Article 26 of the Family Code of the Philippines, a foreign divorce can be recognized, allowing the Filipino spouse to regain their capacity to remarry.
Why You Need a Court Order
Many people mistakenly believe that simply presenting a foreign divorce decree at the Local Civil Registrar is enough to update their marital status.
This legal step is mandatory because Philippine courts do not automatically take "judicial notice" of foreign laws or foreign judgments.
Who Qualifies for This Process?
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 remarry after foreign divorce philippines marriage between a Filipino and a foreign national where the foreign spouse remarry after foreign divorce philippines initiates the divorce.
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 government generally will not recognize the decree, even if it was obtained in a foreign court.
The Legal Steps 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.
Gather Documents: You will need the original or certified true copy of remarry after foreign divorce philippines the foreign divorce decree, proof of the foreign divorce law, and your marriage contract.
Ensure all foreign-issued papers are properly Apostilled for legal use in the Philippines.
Court Proceedings: Your lawyer will present evidence to prove the validity of the divorce.
After winning the case, the final step is updating your marriage certificate with a "divorced" annotation.
Moving Forward
While remarry after foreign divorce philippines the process may seem daunting, it is the only legal way to ensure your next marriage is valid remarry after foreign divorce philippines and protected under Philippine law.