Recognition of Foreign Divorce in Romania

Recognition of a foreign divorce in Romania (recunoașterea hotărârii străine de divorț) makes a divorce granted abroad count here, so that Romanian civil status records show the person as divorced. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Register Foreign Divorce”. The file ends with a note of the divorce (mențiune de divorț) on the Romanian marriage record, made by the civil status service (serviciul de stare civilă). People also search for how to register a foreign divorce in Romania or how to have a divorce from abroad accepted by Romanian authorities.

Who needs it

Romanian citizens who divorced in another country, often while living there; foreigners whose marriage was recorded in Romania; and anyone who wants to remarry in Romania, take back a former surname, buy or inherit property, or prove their marital status in a Romanian file.

Two routes

A divorce from another EU member state is recognised under EU rules without a court procedure: the civil status service records it on the basis of the decision and the standard certificate issued in the country of origin. A divorce from outside the EU, for example from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada or Moldova, may be recognised directly in some situations set by Romanian law, but civil status offices often ask for a recognition judgment from the county tribunal (tribunal). The tribunal does not decide the divorce again; it checks that the decision is final, that the foreign court had jurisdiction, that the other spouse could take part and that nothing contradicts Romanian public policy.

What can hold the file up

• A marriage missing from Romanian registers. A Romanian who married abroad first has the marriage certificate transcribed (transcriere) before the divorce can be noted.
• Papers. The decision normally needs an apostille or legalisation, proof that it is final and a certified Romanian translation.
• Divorces outside a court. A divorce granted abroad by a notary, a registrar or a religious authority raises its own recognition questions.
• Children and money. Custody or maintenance ordered in the same decision may need separate steps before it can be enforced.

What a lawyer handles

A lawyer confirms which route applies, collects and translates the documents, brings the recognition case before the tribunal when one is needed, and follows the note in the civil records until an updated certificate can be issued. Orders on children or money go through enforcement of foreign judgments; a marriage that was never recorded in Romania through marriage registration.

Questions and answers

What about a divorce granted in the United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom is no longer covered by the EU rules, so a UK divorce is treated like any other decision from outside the EU.

Can it be done without travelling to Romania?

Usually yes: a lawyer can act under a power of attorney, and Romanian consulates accept some civil status requests.

Does the former spouse have to agree?

Agreement is not a condition, but in a tribunal case the other party is summoned and can raise the objections the law allows.

Proof of a Romanian divorce is needed abroad. Which service covers that?

That is a certificate request rather than recognition; see divorce certificate or decree copy.