DIVORCE DECREES
Divorce Decree Apostille in Massachusetts
Remarrying abroad, updating your status in another country or settling property overseas? You'll likely need your divorce decree apostilled. Here's how it works, and how we can do it for you.
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WHAT YOU NEED
A certified court copy, then an apostille
From the court that granted your divorce.
- Certified copy from the Probate and Family Court
- Apostille from the Secretary of the Commonwealth
- Embassy legalization for non-Hague countries
- Translation if required
Start with a certified court copy
How it works
- 1
Request the certified copy
Contact the Probate and Family Court in the county where your divorce was granted.
- 2
Send it to us
We check it's certified correctly before we submit it.
- 3
We get the apostille
From the Secretary of the Commonwealth, or the state where your divorce was granted.
- 4
Translation and shipping
Certified translation if needed, then tracked shipping.
Common reasons you'll need it
Remarrying abroad
Foreign registrars usually want proof that any earlier marriage has ended.
Updating your status
Changing your marital status on foreign records or residence permits.
Property and inheritance
Settling property or an estate in another country.
Recognition abroad
Some countries require a U.S. divorce to be formally recognized there. A lawyer in that country can advise you.
Which divorce documents to ask the court for
| Document | What it is | When it’s requested |
|---|---|---|
| Judgment of Divorce Nisi | The court’s judgment granting the divorce | Almost always |
| Proof the judgment became absolute | Certified docket entries showing the divorce became final | Often, especially for remarriage |
| Separation or settlement agreement | The agreement the court approved, if it was incorporated into the judgment | For property, support or custody matters abroad |
| Judgment with a name change | A judgment that restores a former name | For updating passports or IDs abroad |
Each document needs its own certified copy and its own apostille. Ask the recipient for a written list so nothing has to be ordered twice.
Nisi and absolute: why the dates matter
In Massachusetts, a divorce isn’t final the day the judge signs it. The court first issues a Judgment of Divorce Nisi, and the divorce becomes absolute 90 days later. Until then, neither spouse can remarry.
Foreign registrars planning a new marriage usually want proof that the divorce is final, not just the nisi judgment. If you’re remarrying abroad, ask the Probate and Family Court for certified docket entries showing the absolute date, and we’ll apostille them along with the judgment.
Divorces from other states and other countries
A divorce granted in another state is certified by that state’s court and apostilled by that state. Some states add a county clerk step first. We handle the whole process for any state. See 50-state apostille service.
A divorce granted outside the U.S. can’t be apostilled here. It needs an apostille or legalization from the country that granted it. If you’re using a foreign divorce in Massachusetts, a certified translation may be all you need from us. See Certified Translation.
Timing
Getting the certified copy from the Probate and Family Court is usually the slowest step. Timing varies by county and by how you request it. Once we have the certified copy, the Massachusetts apostille usually takes 1–2 business days. Countries outside the Hague Convention need a certification, U.S. Department of State authentication and embassy legalization, which adds time. See Document Authentication.
Using your decree for a new marriage abroad
If you’re remarrying overseas, the registrar will usually ask for your apostilled divorce decree together with your apostilled birth certificate and, in many countries, a single status affidavit or a certificate of no impediment. Some also require certified translations and documents issued within the last few months. Planning the whole set together avoids a second round of court requests. See Single Status Affidavit.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to notarize my divorce decree?
No. The apostille goes on a certified copy from the court.
My divorce was in another state. Can you help?
Yes. We handle apostilles for all 50 states.
Can you request the certified copy for me?
Ask us. Court records have their own rules about who can request them.
I also need a single status affidavit. Can you help?
Yes. See Single Status Affidavit.
Does the Registry of Vital Records issue divorce certificates?
No. Massachusetts divorce records come from the Probate and Family Court in the county where the divorce was granted, not the Registry of Vital Records.
My certified copy is a few years old. Can I use it?
Sometimes. It must be signed by a court official whose signature can be verified, and many recipients want a recent copy. Send us a picture and we’ll tell you before you order a new one.
My destination country isn’t in the Hague Convention. What changes?
Your decree gets a Massachusetts certification instead of an apostille, then U.S. Department of State authentication and embassy legalization. We handle every step. See Document Authentication.
Need your divorce decree apostilled?
Tell us the destination country and your deadline.