Divorce Decree and Certificate for Bahrain

A U.S. Divorce and Life in Bahrain

A divorce granted by a U.S. court can matter in Bahrain for years afterwards. It may be needed to marry again in Bahrain, to update marital status in Bahraini records and on a CPR card, to sponsor a new spouse or children, to settle custody or support questions before a Bahraini court, or, for Bahraini citizens, to have a divorce concluded abroad reflected in their civil status. In each case, the Bahraini office starts with an apostilled certified copy of the U.S. divorce.

Which divorce document to order

The core document is the final decree (judgment of dissolution) from the court that granted the divorce, obtained as a certified copy from the clerk of that court. Bahraini offices want to see that the divorce is final. An interim, temporary or “nisi” order does not prove the marriage has ended. Where custody, support or property matters will be raised in Bahrain, send the full decree with any incorporated settlement agreement or parenting plan. Some states also issue a short divorce certificate from vital records, which may be enough for a remarriage file but not for court matters.

Remarriage, records and recognition

For remarriage in Bahrain, the decree accompanies the affidavit of single status. For court matters, such as enforcing a U.S. custody or support order or having the divorce given effect in a Bahraini proceeding, Bahraini courts apply their own rules on recognizing foreign judgments, and a Bahraini family lawyer should advise early. Where the original marriage was concluded under Islamic law, Bahraini authorities may also consider how the divorce was concluded, so take local advice before relying on a civil decree alone.

Apostille by the court’s state

A U.S. divorce decree is a state court record. It is never notarized, and it is apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state where the court sits, not the state where you live now. Some states first require the clerk’s signature to be verified at county level. For proceedings in Bahrain, an exemplified (triple-certified) copy from the court is often a good choice. Bahrain has accepted apostilles since December 31, 2013, so there is no U.S. Department of State or embassy step.

Translation and names

Bahraini courts and registries work in Arabic, so the decree is translated by a certified translator in Bahrain. Long decrees cost more to translate, so ask whether the whole document or only key pages are required. Check that both spouses’ names match their passports, and keep a record of any name change made in the decree.