Julian
Lawyer · Toulouse, France
- 117 cases handled · 1 in this service
- 39+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish, German, French
- Law with Honours, Liverpool University
Divorce Certificate or Decree Copy in France
In France there is no stand-alone divorce certificate: a divorce is proved by the court judgment, by the notary's attestation for a divorce by mutual consent, or by the marriage and birth records with the divorce noted in the margin. English-speaking lawyers in France obtain the right document and prepare it for use at home or abroad.
About Divorce Certificate or Decree Copy in France
A divorce certificate from France is what many people search for (“divorce certificate France”, “divorce papers”, “divorce decree”), but French law does not issue a separate certificate. Proof of divorce is one of three documents: the divorce judgment (jugement de divorce), the notary's attestation of filing (attestation de dépôt) for a divorce by mutual consent, or a full copy of the marriage and birth records with the divorce noted in the margin (mention du divorce). Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Certificate of Divorce”.
Who asks for it
- Former spouses who plan to remarry, in France or in another country.
- People updating a passport, a residence file, a pension or a property title after the divorce.
- Heirs and notaries who have to show that a marriage had ended before a death.
- Expats divorced in France years ago who no longer have the papers.
How it works in France
After a divorce granted by a court, a copy of the judgment comes from the registry (greffe) of the court that granted it, together with proof that the decision has become final. Since the reform of divorce by mutual consent, many couples divorce without a judge: each spouse's lawyer signs the agreement, which is then filed with a notary, and the notary's attestation proves the divorce. In both cases the divorce is then noted in the margin of the French marriage and birth records, and from that point any new copy of the marriage record shows it.
What to look out for
If the marriage took place abroad and was never entered in French registers, there may be no French record to annotate, and the judgment or the attestation becomes the main proof. For use in another EU country, the court or the notary can issue a standard EU certificate. A divorce granted outside France that has to appear in French records follows its own procedure, see recognition of foreign divorce; a foreign decision that has to be carried out in France is covered by enforcement of foreign judgments.
What a lawyer does
Identifies the court or notary that holds the file, requests the copy and the proof that the decision is final, orders updated civil status copies, and arranges an apostille and a sworn translation when the document is going abroad. If the divorce itself is still ahead, see divorce.
Questions and answers
Is there a divorce certificate in France?
Not as a separate document. The judgment, the notary's attestation or the annotated marriage record does the job.
I divorced without a judge. What do I show?
The attestation issued by the notary with whom the agreement was filed, and later the marriage record that carries the note of the divorce.
Can someone else request the copy for me?
A lawyer can usually request it on your behalf; the court or the notary checks who is entitled to receive it.
Which document does a foreign registry want before a new marriage?
It depends on the country. Many accept the annotated marriage record or the judgment with an apostille and a translation; the receiving office confirms.
1 lawyer who provides Divorce Certificate or Decree Copy in France
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All administrative law & processes services in FranceWhat our clients say about our service in France
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My case was very complex and the lawyer could easily have given up on it, but she carried on and did her best. She is bilingual in English and Spanish, which removed any confusion and really saved on translation costs. Her attitude was professional.
— Heather30 Jan 2026Divorce Certificate or Decree Copy -
I recently worked with a lawyer who managed to get my divorce certificate within the promised timeline, even though the information I first gave was limited. From our very first contact she showed great professionalism and expertise. She was patient and understanding and took me through the process step by step, and her English was perfect, so I never had trouble following. I was truly impressed by her attention to detail and her commitment to my case. I am grateful for her dedication and support at what could have been a stressful time, and I was completely satisfied with the result. I highly recommend her to anyone who needs legal assistance. Thank you for the outstanding service!
— Yvonne08 Aug 2025 -
Although our deadline was very tight, the lawyer went well beyond our expectations to get us a legal document in time. She replied quickly and kept us posted as things progressed. I highly recommend her to anyone who needs this kind of help.
— Mona17 Apr 2025Divorce Certificate or Decree Copy -
The lawyer was patient with me while there were a few delays on my side. Once everything she needed had arrived from the UK, she moved fairly fast, and I was kept up to date all along. She provided a great service and I would definitely recommend her.
— Nicola17 Apr 2025Divorce Certificate or Decree Copy -
The lawyer was very helpful, even suggesting that I use the Turkish embassy here for notary services instead of paying for another solicitor, which would have cost more. He stayed in touch and kept me informed about everything. I would highly recommend both this service and him.
— Liz05 Mar 2025Divorce Certificate or Decree Copy -
I had a fantastic experience with the lawyer in Girona! She guided me through the Spanish legal system and answered my questions. She was easy to approach and replied to my messages as fast as she could. I highly recommend her.
— Customer13 Jun 2024Divorce Certificate or Decree Copy -
My partner's Turkish divorce certificate had to be certified as a copy for his UK visa application, and neither of us had any idea how to arrange it. Through this service I contacted the lawyer, and I was pleased that she grasped immediately what was needed and set it out clearly for both of us. The stress was taken out of the process and we felt completely sure it would be wrapped up fast. That is exactly what happened, and the expert advice has our gratitude.
— Debra11 Mar 2024Divorce Certificate or Decree Copy -
She was very helpful and settled the matter in good time and with sensitivity.
— Joanna11 Mar 2024Divorce Certificate or Decree Copy -
At the first contact, the lawyer took the time to email me because my mobile number had the wrong country code attached, and he wrote again later to check whether I still needed support. Working with him on a time-sensitive request was an exemplary experience. He used the information I supplied and got me what I asked for remarkably efficiently. It was also very good value for money, though that did not matter to me, since the priority was obtaining the document. He appreciated how important my request was and updated me at every step, and I was very satisfied with the outcome. Should I need more support in future from my time living in Spain, I would not hesitate to recommend him or to contact him again.
— Michelle31 Jul 2023 -
The lawyer was absolutely amazing. My situation was urgent, and she dealt with it quickly and efficiently: within literally 2-3 days everything was sorted, and the documents reached me the following day. My thanks go to her and her team. Great service that I will recommend to anyone.
— Erdem01 Jun 2023Divorce Certificate or Decree Copy -
I contacted the service for help with a legal problem and within just a few minutes the lawyer contacted me. He immediately told me what I needed to do and what would happen. He was very efficient, professional and non-judgemental at all times, and his English was perfect. Furthermore, he did everything possible to help me. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a hard-working, honest solicitor. He was a gentleman.
— Christina24 Apr 2023 -
A fast response and excellent advice.
— Elena03 Jan 2023