If you`ve been married before and you`re applying for a green card based on your current marriage, you`ll need to present the U.S. government with a divorce decree (also known as a “divorce certificate”), a cancellation certificate, or a death certificate for each previous marriage. If you already have these documents, you can proceed to the next step in the wedding green card process. Otherwise, this guide will show you how to get a copy of your divorce papers, as well as alternative options if those documents are not available. You will receive your “divorce decree” from the court, but a “divorce certificate” will not be issued by a court. To obtain a certified copy of your divorce file, you will need your file number. If you do not know what your file number is, please call the Probate and Family Court where your case was heard to obtain your file number. Court staff will ask you questions about the nature of the case, the first and last names of the parties, and the department where the divorce was filed so they can help you. A divorce certificate is a completely different document from a divorce decree. A certificate is not created by a court. Instead, your state`s Department of Health or Vital Statistics Bureau issues the certificate.
This is usually the same place where you get your birth certificate. To obtain copies of the divorce documents, go to the courthouse and request a copy or send an application by mail. After a divorce, you might be confused about some of the divorce documents. Each of the divorce papers serves a different purpose. Do not confuse a divorce decree with a divorce certificate. One in relation to records, while the other in an enforceable court order. To find your divorce papers, the court will need the file number. If you don`t know your divorce record number, you can try searching for your case online by searching the index on the court`s case information portal and searching for your name or the name of your spouse (“party name”) at the time of the divorce.
In general, divorce records from the last 10 years can be found on this site. Boundless can help you make sure you have all the right documents for your green card application if you`ve ever been married. Ready to get started? If you did not go to court but settled your case, the divorce decree will include the terms of the settlement. The judgment still acts as a final judgment, but you and your ex-spouse have decided on the terms of your own divorce without court intervention. If your divorce is not contested, online filing may be the way to go. Here`s how. More than happy to give him back the last name of your ex-spouse after your divorce? Here`s how you do it, legally speaking. Only a court can issue a divorce decree.
You will receive it at the end of your file. If your case has been brought before the courts, your divorce decree will specify the terms of the judge`s decision and act as a judgment that both parties must follow. If you filed for divorce in the United States, you can usually get a divorce decree from the court that issued the document. Alternatively, you can request an official copy from the Vital Statistics Office in the state where your divorce was finalized. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website provides the name and address of each vital statistics office, as well as the current fees for requesting the records. Legal divorce is called the dissolution of marriage. There are several steps to reach a resolution. If you filed for divorce abroad, you can find information about the issuing authority in your home country — including its name, current fees, and procedures for obtaining an official copy — on the U.S. Department of State`s website. (On the left side of the website, you need to select the first letter of your country name, select your country, and click on the “Marriage, Divorce Certificates” tab to see more details.) A divorce decree is a court document that is a final judgment of the divorce court.
It contains information about your case, including spousal support, child support, custody, visits, division of property and other information. Unlike a long divorce decree, a divorce certificate is a simple document that shows: Usually, only people who were parties to the divorce or their lawyers can recover the judgment. A divorce certificate is used for limited purposes, and not all states issue a divorce certificate. You can use it for: Most divorce decrees are complete and contain all the information agreed upon in your case, para. B example who is responsible for life and health insurance, if the woman can take back her maiden name and how you will divide your debts. If you and your spouse agree on the terms of a divorce, you may be able to get an uncontested divorce. In most states, these are faster and cheaper than a regular divorce. Find out how to start your divorce. After receiving your divorce decree, you must make sure that you follow the judgment and that your ex-spouse is too. For example, your ex-spouse has obligations created by the decree, .
B such as the payment of spousal support, family allowances or the taking out of insurance policies. You are responsible for ensuring that your ex-spouse complies with the decree. If you want a certified copy of your divorce decree months or years after your divorce, you can usually get it at the courthouse in the clerk`s office. Some states have divorce decrees in the county clerk`s office, so you`ll need to check with your state. For any previous marriage, the sponsoring spouse (the United States.B. Citizen or current green card holder) and the spouse applying for a green card must provide a photocopy or a certified copy (with the seal or stamp of the issuing body) of their final divorce decree. You will also need to bring the original document or a certified copy to your green card interview. .
