A US Divorce Decree in Türkiye: Registry or Court

A divorce granted in the United States does not change a Turkish civil registry record by itself. Someone who was married to a Turkish citizen, or who is Turkish, has to bring the decree to a Turkish authority. That starts with a decree the issuing state will apostille.

Before the apostille: the court's own certification

The states below each set their own rule for the copy they will accept. In West Virginia the decree must be a certified copy signed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court that issued it and bear the stamp of the office. Rhode Island legalizes judgments, orders and other court documents only once the court that issued them has certified them. In Maryland a divorce decree carrying the seal and authorized signature of the issuing department goes directly to the Secretary of State in Annapolis. New Mexico names divorce decrees among the government documents on which the apostille confirms that the certifying person was a New Mexico official at the time.

In Türkiye: civil registry or court

Turkish civil registration law allows a foreign divorce decision to be entered in the family register directly, without a court case. The application is made by both spouses together, or by the Turkish spouse alone if the other has died or is a foreign national. The decision must come from an authority competent under the law of the issuing state, be final under its procedure and not be clearly contrary to Turkish public order. Abroad, the Turkish mission in the country where the decision was given handles the registration; in Türkiye, civil registry offices designated by the Ministry of Interior do.

A decision refused on that route goes to a Turkish court for recognition under the Turkish private international law statute.

The Turkish translation is prepared in Ankara by translators sworn before a Turkish notary. The civil registry office or the court decides on recognition.