There is a procedure you must follow before you can file for divorce with us. To get divorced, you will need a mediator (divorce mediation) and/or a solicitor. Your mediator or solicitor must submit the application for divorce to the court where the judge will grant the divorce.
Your mediator or solicitor will then receive the court’s ruling in the form of a decree. If the court’s ruling is final and neither party can appeal, your mediator or solicitor will (in most cases) register the order with the local authority where the marriage took place within six months.
- If you were married in the Netherlands and have divorced in the Netherlands, your solicitor will usually ensure that your divorce decree is sent to the local authority where you were married.
- If you were married abroad and have divorced in the Netherlands, you must have the divorce decree registered with the registrar in The Hague. In most cases, your solicitor will ensure that the divorce decree is submitted to The Hague.
- If you have divorced abroad, you must have your foreign divorce certificate entered into the Personal Records Database. The documents must be legalised in the country of origin if required. If the judgment has not been translated into Dutch, German, English or French, this must be done by a sworn interpreter/translator.
Registration in the divorce register is free of charge.