Documents for Divorced and Widowed in Georgia: Special Requirements

Being a marriage law professional under VOWLY, I, Sarah Johnson, am very much aware of the hardships that international couples encounter, especially with their past marriages involved. Marrying in Georgia is among the preferences due to its uncomplicated methods. However, if you are divorced or widowed, you will have to pay attention to particular document requirements that apply to you. This guide introduces these essential steps to make creating your way to quot;I doquot; easier than you expected.

Necessary Special Document for Divorced Applicants

For the ones who once were Hilton their marriage documentation is pivotal for the marriage registration in Georgia. The particular form and the apostille stamp and legalization required for your divorce certificate or court decision are based heavily on the country where the divorce was obtained.

Divorce Document Requirements by Country Type

• CIS Countries If your divorce occurred in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, or Ukraine, typically, a notarized copy is acceptable without an apostille. The original document is still needed to be submitted it for registration.
• Hague Convention Countries For nations, which are members of the Hague Convention, the original divorce certificate with an apostille will be necessary. The apostille must be affixed to the original document and not a copy.
• Germany rather than court decision, an "Auszug" (extract) is required, along with a marital status document.
• France mainly focuses on a protocol that they won't sign a notarization paper without an apostille, given the marriage certificate is not issued in the local French office.
• Israel requests a Ministry of Interior extract with a Jerusalem apostille.
• UK accepts the "decree absolute" only.
• USA is mainly recognized by documents apostilled.
• Non-Hague Convention Countries If you divorced in a non-Hague Convention country, a double legalization step is required. The process includes the authorization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the divorce took place, followed by the Georgian embassy or consulate in that very country.

Furthermore, a divorce certificate might be additionally necessary to prove you are not married to someone else at the moment. Some nations may also ask for a marital status certificate as well as a certificate that there are no impediments to the marriage, set with the apostille or consular legalization.

Special Document Requirements for Widowed Applicants

If you are a widow, the major special document requirement for you is the death certificate of your former spouse. The same legalization and translation rules that apply for death certificates also hold for divorce documents. This certificate must be the newest if you had other marriages.

You may also need some documents verifying your marriage to the deceased spouse, such as the marriage certificate. Even though sometimes it is not directly required for the registration of marriage, the lack of proof regarding property disputes with the deceased spouse's heirs can be a problem, especially if there was common property.

Document Preparation and Legalization

All foreign documents, including divorce and death certificates, must be translated into Georgian and notarized.

Translation Requirements

Documents must be translated into Georgian by an accredited translator. The House of Justice may provide staff translators for core languages including Russian, English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, and Turkish. Other languages may require freelance translators, possibly extending timelines. It is always best to confirm translator availability in advance.

Notarization Process

The notarization process in Georgia requires your original documents to be physically present. Scanned copies or photocopies cannot be notarized. Your original documents will be bound together with their Georgian translations and officially stamped. Note that all notarized documents stay with the Georgian authorities and they won't return them to you.

Legalization Procedures

• Apostille - For the documents from Hague Convention countries, an apostille is a rectangular stamp that certifies the authenticity of the document. You can get an apostille on your original marriage certificate and on a translation to your selected language (a Georgian practice). The time for processing at the House of Justice is 1 to 8 working days.
• Consular Legalization - For the countries that are not Hague Convention, then a two-step consular legalization is needed. The first phase will be held in the House of Justice and you will get a document for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia stamp and its translation. The second stage will be at the consulate of the relevant country. Requirements and processing times can be significantly different from one consulate to another (e.g., UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt).

Important Considerations for Previously Married Couples

The document requirements for previously married couples can be complicated and VOWLY is here to guide you through them.

• Document Validity Affidavits or single status certificates that are typically valid for a maximum of 3 months from their issue date are also expired. Some countries like Portugal even have documents that are only valid for 6 months. Generally, there is no waiting period after divorce in Georgia but you might need to wait at least 42 days if you plan to register in Cyprus in the future.
• Document Retention All documents submitted to the Georgian authorities are filed in their archives and none is returned. It is essential to prepare at least one certified copy for your personal records before you submit your documents.
• Potential Complications The existence of different names and dates on your papers can be a reason for delays and sometimes even for refusals. It is your primary task to ensure that the information is identical, e.g. in your passport, divorce certificate, and other identity documents. If you have kids predominantly if you are divorced, there may be other stipulations about custody or parental consent, that would require a separate legal analysis.
• Professional Assistance Collecting, legalizing, and translating documents may take considerably longer time. A head start combined with the advice from a professional will significantly cut the time involved and any chances of mistakes.

At VOWLY, we truly believe that love overcomes any barriers and moreover marriages should be easy and uncomplicated. We bundle trick documentation into a clear, easy-to-follow process.

Do you have plans to get married in Georgia? Just let the intelligent country selection and dedicated support of VOWLY show you the way. Start Your Marriage Journey with VOWLY today, obtain a transparent experience, and calculate your costs instantly, thereby eliminating any likelihood of stress.