Advise needed on divorce doc attached

[2021Immigrant 0]

Hi Everyone, I hope you are well.

 

I have an interview coming up soon and I am confused if the certificate of dissolution doc we have is sufficient. My spouse got it at the court house- he went in physically and requested his divorce decree and this is what he was given. This is from Minneosotta. As you can see it is a very simple doc, 1 pager, A4 printed out on writing paper. Can someone please advise if we need to get something fancier? OR is this sufficient to embassy staff?

 

Thank you to all who will respond. Also let me know if this shows any critical information that I shouldn't be posting online.

[Chancy 6,241]

40 minutes ago, 2021Immigrant said:

Can someone please advise if we need to get something fancier? OR is this sufficient to embassy staff?

 

The document does not have to be fancy, but it does have to be the final divorce decree.  According to the Minnesota Judicial Branch website, the certificate of dissolution is different from and has less information than the divorce decree -- https://www.mncourts.gov/Help-Topics/Divorce.aspx

 

[2021Immigrant 0]

14 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

The document does not have to be fancy, but it does have to be the final divorce decree.  According to the Minnesota Judicial Branch website, the certificate of dissolution is different from and has less information than the divorce decree -- https://www.mncourts.gov/Help-Topics/Divorce.aspx

 

Thanks. What I think you are saying is that we ought to go back to the courthouse and ask for a divorce decree. Is this correct?

 

Edited August 15, 2021 by 2021Immigrant

[El Escocés 217]

I was able to get a certified copy of a divorce decree from the court that granted the divorce (Houston). It was the decree that I had to submit (for GC and N400)

 

https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/mardiv.html

Edited August 15, 2021 by El Escocés

[Chancy 6,241]

17 minutes ago, 2021Immigrant said:

we ought to go back to the courthouse and ask for a divorce decree. Is this correct?

 

Yes.  Tell the staff there that you need it for immigration purposes, so a certificate of dissolution is not enough.

 

[2021Immigrant 0]

4 minutes ago, El Escocés said:

I was able to get a certified copy of a divorce decree from the court that granted the divorce (Houston). It was the decree that I had to submit (for GC and N400)

 

https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/mardiv.html

Thank you!

2 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Yes.  Tell the staff there that you need it for immigration purposes, so a certificate of dissolution is not enough.

 

Thank you so much for this. It all makes sense to me. 

[SalishSea 17,819]

39 minutes ago, 2021Immigrant said:

Thanks. What I think you are saying is that we ought to go back to the courthouse and ask for a divorce decree. Is this correct?

 

Yes.  You want a certified copy of the entire decree, which should have the seal of the court embossed on it, in addition to the clerk's signature.

 

A 'certified copy' of a document (birth certificate, death certificate, marriage cert, divorce decree etc) is equivalent to the original kept by the county or state's department of vital records.

[2021Immigrant 0]

4 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Yes.  You want a certified copy of the entire decree, which should have the seal of the court embossed on it, in addition to the clerk's signature.

 

A 'certified copy' of a document (birth certificate, death certificate, marriage cert, divorce decree etc) is equivalent to the original kept by the county or state's department of vital records.

Thank you. I just searched online (court records) and found a list of all documents from that divorce. The decree must be the 16 page one with signatures from each party and judges too. It is titled: MARITAL TERMINATION AGREEMENT AND FINDINGS OF FACT| CONCLUSIONS OF LAW. ORDER FOR JUDGMENT AND JUDGMENT AND DECREE.

 

I will work on getting it certified.

[SalishSea 17,819]

1 minute ago, 2021Immigrant said:

Thank you. I just searched online (court records) and found a list of all documents from that divorce. The decree must be the 16 page one with signatures from each party and judges too. It is titled: MARITAL TERMINATION AGREEMENT AND FINDINGS OF FACT| CONCLUSIONS OF LAW. ORDER FOR JUDGMENT AND JUDGMENT AND DECREE.

 

I will work on getting it certified.

Your spouse should be able to order a certified copy from the county.

[El Escocés 217]

2 minutes ago, 2021Immigrant said:

I will work on getting it certified

Okay, so this was Houston. I had the choice of a copy or a certified copy for a few extra dollars. I was able to do everything on line. The court house in MN should be able to offer the same or at the least you can talk with someone there. Good luck. 

Edited August 15, 2021 by El Escocés

[pushbrk 12,877]

 

2 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Yes.  You want a certified copy of the entire decree, which should have the seal of the court embossed on it, in addition to the clerk's signature.

 

A 'certified copy' of a document (birth certificate, death certificate, marriage cert, divorce decree etc) is equivalent to the original kept by the county or state's department of vital records.

 

What the document is called and how you get it varies by State and sometimes by county, but as long as it has the names of the parties, dates and a certification that it is a true copy, it's good.  Mine from Washington State were accepted and they did not contain the full decree, just a one page extract that included signatures and certification.  Follow the instructions at the link below.  Experience of members with divorce decrees from other states, do not apply.

 

For example, WA can use an extract from records, Texas only has full decrees, and Pennsylvania needs what is called a "Decree Absolute" which is not available immediately after the divorce decision by the judge.

 

https://mn.gov/law-library/how-do-i-find/divorce-decree.jsp

[SalishSea 17,819]

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

 

 

What the document is called and how you get it varies by State and sometimes by county, but as long as it has the names of the parties, dates and a certification that it is a true copy, it's good.  Mine from Washington State were accepted and they did not contain the full decree, just a one page extract that included signatures and certification.  Follow the instructions at the link below.  Experience of members with divorce decrees from other states, do not apply.

 

For example, WA can use an extract from records, Texas only has full decrees, and Pennsylvania needs what is called a "Decree Absolute" which is not available immediately after the divorce decision by the judge.

 

https://mn.gov/law-library/how-do-i-find/divorce-decree.jsp

Good point!  Thanks, Pushbrk.  I had both the certificate and the certified decree, and I sent the decree for our I129f petition, because I wasn't entirely sure that the certificate would be adequate.  Thanks for clarifying.

[Beth & Achraf 328]

21 hours ago, 2021Immigrant said:

Thanks. What I think you are saying is that we ought to go back to the courthouse and ask for a divorce decree. Is this correct?

 

You need a certified copy of the Decree that the Judge signed off on.

 

[Troy B 223]

In Sacramento, California the "Judgement"  is 15 pages (it includes the settlement agreement),  vs the "Notice of Entry of Judgement"  which is just a single page.   And to get a certified copy you have to send a request (there's a form for it), plus money, and a self-signed envelope with postage paid.   (Unlike the certified marriage certificate which can ordered online). 

 

Not helpful for MN,  but might be useful for others.

[2021Immigrant 0]

Thank you everyone. I got the certified copy, went in for my interview and got approved! My visa has been issued.