REGISTRATION OF A US DIVORCE IN FRANCE

To take effect in France, a divorce pronounced abroad must be acknowledged in the margin of the birth and marriage certificates (see mentions marginales). The parties must get a certified translation of the judgment or decree of divorce and a translation of the certificate of non-appeal, also called a Certificate of Divorce Absolute or, in the County of New York, a Search Certificate. These translations must be apostilled (see Apostille on a translation) in the State of New York). The Certificate of Non Appeal stipulates that the divorce is irrevocable and that the time for filing notice of appeal has expired. You may obtain this document at the county clerk's office in the county were the judgment was filed.

See the French vital records site (link validated  January 2022)
https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/services-aux-francais/etat-civil-et-nationalite-francaise/etat-civil/article/les-divorces-a-l-etranger

State of New York

State of New Jersey

Many of our clients, who called the Superior Court of New Jersey (609-292 4822) to ask for a certificate of non-appeal, were told that such a document does not exist. This document does exist, in different form. It is delivered by the Appellant Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey (see an example of a New Jersey certificate of non-appeal). You can obtain this document by mail. Write a letter requesting it, include a self-addressed stamped envelope or your return address, attach a copy of your judgment of divorce, along with a $5.00 check payable to the Treasurer of the State of New Jersey to the following address:

Attn: John Grant
Superior Court of New Jersey
Appellant Division
P.O Box 006
Trenton NJ 08625

Note: your attorney can write a short letter (non-appeal_from Attorney_template) stating that no appeal was filed. This letter can replace a certificate of non-appeal.

These documents, along with a Letter of request to the Procureur de la République (in French) must be sent to one of the following addresses:

If the marriage took place in the US or outside of France:

For a marriage celebrated abroad and transcribed in the Consular registers the, competent court in the Tribunal de Grande Instance (TGI) in Nantes.

Monsieur Le Procureur de la République
Tribunal de Grande Instance de Nantes,
Quai François Mitterrand
44921 Nantes Cedex 9
France

If the marriage took place in France:If the marriage took place in France:

 For a marriage celebrated in France the relevant jurisdiction is TGI of the venue of the marriage.

Monsieur Le Procureur de la République
Près le Tribunal de Grande Instance de [Fill in the jurisdiction where the marriage took place and find the address at the following link: Tribunal de Grande Instance in France]

Following the decision, the Prosecutor of the competent TGI will order the affixing of a statement of dissolution of marriage in the margin of the corresponding French vital records documents (marriage certificate/ birth certificates) and the family booklet (livret de famille) will be updated.

The process is basically the same for divorces pronounced in other States.

See under our Check List

CHECK LISTS

1.  Get a copy of the Final Judgment of Divorce. The original document must contain: the identification of the court that ruled on the divorce and with judgement date and registration number of the final and irrevocable divorce, the official seal of the court that granted the divorce, the identity and signature of the judge.
2. Have the judgment of divorce translated in French and, if the judgment was pronounced in the State of New York or New Jersey, have also get a Search Certificate / Certificate of non-appeal and have it translated.
3. Get a complete copy of the marriage certificate from the city hall which celebrated your marriage, if it took place in France. If it was held abroad by completing the online form at: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/R1405
4. Get a complete copy of your birth certificate, updated with any marginal mentions. It can be obtained at the city hall of your place of birth if you are born in France. If you are a French citizen born abroad, complete the form online at: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/R15660
5. Photocopy of your national identity card or, if valid, your French passport.
6. Photocopy of your ex-spouse’s passport (if this is not possible, mention the reason for failure to obtain it in the letter to the Procureur de la République (public prosecutor) of the competent TGI,
7. A letter on plain paper addressed to the Procureur de la République of the competent TGI (Letter of request to the Procureur de la République)
8. Proof of residence at the time of divorce proceedings or, alternatively, a declaration on your honor certifying your address at time of divorce proceedings.
9. These documents must be sent to Monsieur Le Procureur de la République  près le Tribunal de Grande Instance de Nantes if the marriage was performed outside of France and to Monsieur Le Procureur de la République près le Tribunal de Grande Instance de [the jurisdiction where the marriage was performed] if the marriage was performed in France (see complete addresses in the previous pages).