What is a "certified copy" of divorce decree?

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

NVC just sent my case to the Consulate (Skopje Macedonia) and i was reading this post, i decided to to check my divorce decree. (Texas does not give divorce certificates).

My final decree has a stamp and a signature from the judge and court house. My only concern is my signature, my ex-wife's signature and my attorney's signature are not the original signatures. I was overseas when my divorce took place and my attorney emailed me and my ex-wife all the documents, we signed them and emailed back to her (attorney)so when she finally put the final decree together all she had was copies of the documents with signatures. The judge's signature and the courthouse stamp/seal are original. Please advice me if you think this is going to be OK or not. By the way, I'm still overseas and it's going to be very difficult to obtain another copy of the decree with all original signatues.

Typically the document with live signatures is the document of record. In other words it is archived at the County seat wherein the divorce occurred. It would be most unusual for a true certified copy to contain live signatures. Most persons also don't have a "certified copy" in their possession as a natural progression of their divorce proceedings. USC's usually just receive a copy made in their attorney's office.

Odds are the document you possess in your personal records is not certified by the County Clerk or Recorder. If you have questions it's best to contact that authority and ask them what a "certified" document from them will look like. The process of certification varies widely. Your attorney MAY have provided you with a certified copy as part of his/her service to you. But it is not typical.

[DainandVicky 4]

I sent a photocopy of the court document. The origianl I photocopied has a stamp and judge's signature only, no embossment. I sent a photocopy only for the I-129F, and also a photocopy for the actual interview in Manila. There were no problems with this.

It specifically says on most all of the forms and paperwork "copies are fine unless otherwise stated" (paraphrasing). It did specifically say on the US embassy Manila guide that they wanted an original or certified copy of the divorce for the K-1 interview, which made me sweat a bit, but the package was already sent and the interview was only a couple of days away by the time I saw that. I didn't tell my fiance (now wife), ignorance is bliss.

I ran into the same thing filing my AOS. On the I-485 form instructions it says "a copy of your marriage certificate". On VisaJourney guide it says "a certified copy of your marriage certificate". I sent a certified copy to be safe (I ordered 2 when I ordered ours for that specific reason), but I don't think I really needed to, I think a copy would have been fine.

Just my 2 cents.

[Lorenzoid 12]

Interestingly (well, to me), when I walked into the room in the courthouse in downtown Atlanta where they keep inactive/archived court records, the person in line in front of me was requesting a certified copy of a divorce decree, and while I waited for mine, several other people came in for the same thing. In fact, there seemed to be a steady stream of people for the 30 minutes I was there who were seeking certified copies of their divorce decrees. To see so many in the same place--apparently a steady stream all day long--really put into perspective for me just how common divorce is in the US.

[rickrock 0]

Has anyone submitted their packet without a certified copy?

[Norm and Grace 0]

Hello Vjers,

I read some conflicting notes about what the counsular needs regarding a divorce decree. I am a USC petitioner and my finace CO is Egypt. I have been divorced for 7 years and all I have a copy of the divorce decree. VSC just sent us our NOA2 but I heard the CO in Egypt requests for a "certified copy of divorce decree." What do I have to send my fiancee for her interview? And what do they mean by "certified copy"?

You assitance is very much apprecaited.

HandA

I went to the the courthouse and asked for a copy. It took two weeks and to certify it cost 10 dollars.

Make sure you get 2 or 3 copies while your there.

[seaking 1]

Hello Vjers,

I read some conflicting notes about what the counsular needs regarding a divorce decree. I am a USC petitioner and my finace CO is Egypt. I have been divorced for 7 years and all I have a copy of the divorce decree. VSC just sent us our NOA2 but I heard the CO in Egypt requests for a "certified copy of divorce decree." What do I have to send my fiancee for her interview? And what do they mean by "certified copy"?

You assitance is very much apprecaited.

HandA

I have only a zerox copy of the judgement that has the Judge's signature and official INK stamp (State of California) at the back with the words : I xxxx xxxx, the Clerk of the Superior Court of the above entitled county, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of the original on file in my office, and that I have carefully compared same with the original. Question: I am in Nevada. Can I get my copy certified to send to NVC.

[TheBears 9]

Seaking,

Sounds like it's already been certified. Good to go.

[seaking 1]

Seaking,

Sounds like it's already been certified. Good to go.

Thank you TheBears' the only thing it is the only copy that I have and hate to put it in the mail to anyone.

[TheBears 9]

Call the court you got it from right now (or during lunch, but sometime today) and see if you can get another certified copy ordered by fax or something. If you can, order it today and send the one you currently have in with the other documents. Original means original; there's no getting around it.

[~Johnny~ 27]

Has anyone submitted their packet without a certified copy?

I sent my I-129F packet with just a photo copy of the divorce decree that we got from the court 5 years ago. I ordered the fancy embossed state certified divorce certificate and will have that in my fiancee's hands for the interview.

Then when this is over, I can hang it on the wall in my office right next to to my degrees and awards...

Edited March 3, 2010 by duplantisjj

[boisestate 0]

Just to add a little fun to this thread. I (USC) was married once before -- terrible experience but that's in the past. When sending in the 129F, I included a photocopy of the only document I received from my attorney, which was an originally signed and stamped copy of the divorce decree. That made it through UCSIC and NVC, no problem. However, when my fiance went to her visa interview this morning, they refused to accept that copy and insisted she produce a raised embossed certified copy. Is this a new requirement? Fortunately I was able to contact Vital Records and have them 2-day UPS a copy, but I'm just really surprised a signed/stamped official copy from the court is not accepted!

Thoughts?