Court Records for Bahrain

Taking U.S. Court Records and Judgments to Bahrain

Bahrain is a regional hub for banking and commerce, so U.S. court records often follow businesses and families there. A creditor may want to collect a U.S. judgment from a debtor with assets in Bahrain. An estate may need a U.S. probate order to deal with Bahraini property. A parent may need a custody order recognized, or a person may need a name change order to update Bahraini records. Each starts with a properly certified and apostilled copy of the U.S. record.

Commercial judgments and Bahraini courts

A U.S. money judgment is not automatically enforceable in Bahrain. Bahraini courts examine foreign judgments before giving them effect, typically looking at whether the U.S. court had jurisdiction, whether the defendant was properly notified, whether the judgment is final, and whether it conflicts with Bahraini public order. A Bahraini litigation lawyer should advise before you start, and will usually want the full judgment, proof of finality and proof of service, all apostilled.

Arbitration awards

Many cross-border contracts with Bahraini parties use arbitration rather than U.S. courts. Bahrain is a party to the New York Convention on the recognition of foreign arbitral awards, and disputes may also be heard by the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution. An arbitral award itself is not a court record. Where a U.S. court has confirmed the award, the confirming judgment is, and it follows the court record route.

Personal and estate matters

Probate: letters testamentary or of administration show who represents a U.S. estate, which helps when dealing with Bahraini banks and the land registry alongside Bahraini succession procedures. Family: custody, adoption and name change orders support residence, schooling, CPR records and travel. A name change order is often the simplest way to link old and new names on Bahraini documents.

State or federal court: two apostille offices

A record from a state court is ordered as a certified (or exemplified) copy from the clerk of that court, and apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state where the court sits, after county verification where required. A record from a federal court, such as a U.S. District Court or Bankruptcy Court, is certified by the federal clerk and apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. Court records are never notarized. Bahrain has accepted apostilles since December 31, 2013, so no embassy step is involved. Bahraini courts work in Arabic, so allow for certified translation in Bahrain.