Divorce Decree

A Divorce Decree is the official court judgment that legally dissolves a marriage. Unlike a Divorce Certificate, which may only confirm that a divorce has been registered, the decree contains the actual judicial decision and often includes details such as property division, custody arrangements, or spousal support. In German law, divorce is always treated as a judicial act (gerichtliche Entscheidung). Therefore, when a marriage is dissolved abroad, German authorities usually require the full Divorce Decree – not merely a certificate – for the official recognition of the divorce (Anerkennung einer ausländischen Scheidung).

Without the decree, it may be impossible to remarry, update civil status records, or assert certain legal rights in Germany. The recognition process is handled by the competent State Department of Justice and always requires a certified translation into German.

The Divorce Decree is issued by the court and proves the legal termination of a marriage. It is not to be confused with the Divorce Certificate, which in many countries is simply an extract from the civil registry and does not replace the judicial ruling. For recognition in Germany, the decree must usually include confirmation that it has become legally binding, the so-called Rechtskraftvermerk. Since German authorities only accept sworn translations, the document must be translated by a court-certified translator to ensure validity.

The Divorce Decree is therefore much more than a formal document – it is the essential proof that a marriage has been legally dissolved and can be recognized in Germany.

Nachtigal Services provides professional sworn translations of Divorce Decrees from English into German – precise, reliable, and officially accepted by German authorities.