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Can I get a divorce online if I got married abroad?

Many people assume that getting a divorce in England or Wales will be far more complicated if they were married overseas. Some even assume that they’ll be unable to obtain a divorce outside of the jurisdiction within which they were married.

Whilst many people are unsure of how being married abroad will affect their application for a divorce, though, we have some good news: provided you or your spouse live in England or Wales, the courts within this jurisdiction will accept your application for divorce irrespective of where you were married.

As far as the courts of England and Wales are concerned, they have jurisdiction if either party resides in either of these countries. The place where you were married will therefore not affect your right to file for divorce here as a result.

So, provided you and your spouse consent to a divorce, you can get a divorce online if you were married abroad, but there may be one or two potential complications.

Firstly, if your marriage certificate isn’t in English, you’ll need to obtain a notarised translation of the document. Whilst the use of the word ‘notarised’ can be intimidating, the process is, for the customer, no more complex than obtaining a standard translation, though slightly more expensive. This process involves a professional translating the document before visiting a Public Notary and declaring that their translation is accurate. Getting a notarised translation of your marriage certificate is therefore a simple process; you just need to ensure that any translator you instruct is made aware of the fact that you will not only need your marriage certificate translated, but will also need to have the translation notarised.

Another additional complication stems from the need to provide the court with either the original or a certified copy of your marriage certificate. If you are unable to locate the original, you’ll need to get a certified copy which can only be issued by the relevant authority within the country you were married. As the process of obtaining a certified copy differs from country to country, you'll probably need some help.

If you find yourself in this situation, we’d recommend that, if possible, you contact any tour operator or wedding planner you used as they should be familiar with the relevant procedures and should therefore be able to assist you. If this is not possible, contact the embassy of the relevant nation and ask them for their assistance.

So, whilst the fact you were married abroad may mean that you’ll need to do some extra work and accrue some extra costs, it certainly won’t stop you from getting a divorce online.

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