divorce papers

[KoshkaMoshka 0]

Hi!

I am divorcing(mutual agreement ) and would like to know -going back to russia- do i need apostil on my divorce document?and what divorce docs do i need to take with me to make sure i will not have problems in russia or in europe that i divorced

Thanks in advance..

[mox 298]

From what I've read, anytime you want the Russian government to accept a foreign document as real, you need to have an apostil. Others may be able to give you a more detailed answer.

For what it's worth, I'm very sorry things didn't work out for you. I hope things work out better for you in the future. Good luck!

[slim 1,525]

Did you ever even have a "Russian" marriage document?

If not, then you may not need anything. If you were never "technically" married in Russia (because Russia doesn't recognize outside documents and even though you've been to the U.S. and had other documents and etc., etc., you still were "Russian" and "single" the whole time) then maybe you don't need to do anything either.

However, if you registered through the consulate or had your passport amended or anything like that, you'll probably have to retrace all your steps and get it either apostiled or worked through the consulate.

[Satellite 1]

Did you ever even have a "Russian" marriage document?

If not, then you may not need anything. If you were never "technically" married in Russia (because Russia doesn't recognize outside documents and even though you've been to the U.S. and had other documents and etc., etc., you still were "Russian" and "single" the whole time) then maybe you don't need to do anything either.

However, if you registered through the consulate or had your passport amended or anything like that, you'll probably have to retrace all your steps and get it either apostiled or worked through the consulate.

I tend to agree with Slim. I doubt anyone on here who married in the US bothered to return to Russia to change their internal passport to reflect the marriage. And even if you made a passport amendment and registered, all you have to do is unregistered, and wait for your passport to expire. The new passport won't come with the amendment. At least that is what I think will happen when my wife goes to renew hers and they'll make us pay for it again.

Also, if you want to bother with the official legal document, get the divorce degree, then get it apostilled, then get it all translated into Russian, and finally submit it to the Russian consulate for certification, which involves them placing a seal and knitting all the documents together. Now you have a legal document that is good in Russia!

[mox 298]

It may be a case that nowhere in Russia is her marriage recorded, but Russia *does* recognize marriages performed in the US. Hence, while Russia may not realize they are recognizing her marriage, they do recognize her marriage. (Gads I hope that made sense.) So it would be a good idea for her to have valid proof that the marriage is disolved. I would definitely get an apostilized copy of the divorce certificate before leaving the US in case it ever became an issue. If you are going back to Russia forever, it may just sit and collect dust for the rest of your life. But it's good to have just in case.

[KoshkaMoshka 0]

Thank you guys for your replies..

After 3 years we are divorcing and we were married in usa,i came here as a fiancee(K-1 visa)...and was stuck in name check for 3 years,so couldn't work here and drive a car(i passed a driving test but didn't get a driving lisence cause don't have a GC...was very frustrated(((

Well now i go througth divorce..it's painful.hurt..and my husband insisted on uncoditional divorce so i signed up...now just want to make sure i will have all necesary divorce papers from here(I'll go in a few weeks home and he'll send to me a paper with apostile)....now..my mother will live in germany and i would like to go there to study,so if i'll have a divorce paper with apostile in case they will ask me in german consulate i hope that will be enouth...

Thanks again ...

[Satellite 1]

It may be a case that nowhere in Russia is her marriage recorded, but Russia *does* recognize marriages performed in the US. Hence, while Russia may not realize they are recognizing her marriage, they do recognize her marriage. (Gads I hope that made sense.) So it would be a good idea for her to have valid proof that the marriage is dissolved. I would definitely get an apostilized copy of the divorce certificate before leaving the US in case it ever became an issue. If you are going back to Russia forever, it may just sit and collect dust for the rest of your life. But it's good to have just in case.

Using your same logic, wouldn't you agree that Russia would also recognize her divorce as well as her marriage in the US even if no "legally recognized" document exists? I think it works both ways using your logic. It would be silly to say they "recognize" the marriage and not the divorce? Edited January 7, 2008 by Satellite

[mox 298]

Using your same logic, wouldn't you agree that Russia would also recognize her divorce as well as her marriage in the US even if no "legally recognized" document exists? I think it works both ways using your logic. It would be silly to say they "recognize" the marriage and not the divorce?

It is my understanding that it's not the apostile that makes it a recognized marriage or divorce. The apostile just makes the actual document "acceptable." Since it's her divorce, not her marriage, that she's going to be primarily concerned with, it makes sense that she should make sure her divorce decree is iron-clad.

From a practical standpoint, if I were divorcing my US spouse and returning to Russia, I would want to protect myself to the fullest extent. Once she's out of the country it's going to be incredibly difficult if not impossible to obtain an apostilized divorce decree on the off-chance that she would need it in the future. Why would she need it? I have no idea, but I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. She could probably get her ex to send an apostilized copy (since she said the divorce was mutual), but what happens 10 years from now when she's lost all contact with him?

[slim 1,525]

Man, Satellite, you're going to be an excellent lawyer!

"How can the state request my client show proof of being divorced when the state does not recognize my client as ever being married?"

Case closed!

[slavrina 0]

Thank you guys for your replies..

After 3 years we are divorcing and we were married in usa,i came here as a fiancee(K-1 visa)...and was stuck in name check for 3 years,so couldn't work here and drive a car(i passed a driving test but didn't get a driving lisence cause don't have a GC...was very frustrated(((

Well now i go througth divorce..it's painful.hurt..and my husband insisted on uncoditional divorce so i signed up...now just want to make sure i will have all necesary divorce papers from here(I'll go in a few weeks home and he'll send to me a paper with apostile)....now..my mother will live in germany and i would like to go there to study,so if i'll have a divorce paper with apostile in case they will ask me in german consulate i hope that will be enouth...

Thanks again ...

Dear Yulia, it's really sad to hear.We filed for AOS in April 2005.I had an interview in November 2005 but I haven't got my green card yet because a name check is still pending.I do work and I've got my driver's licence.I just have to renew my EAD every year. You don't need GC to get driver'ds licence.

Edited January 10, 2008 by slavrina