In an increasingly globalized world, international mobility has risen significantly, and Romanian citizens who divorce abroad must navigate various administrative procedures upon returning to the country. When a Romanian citizen obtains a divorce in Norway, the recognition and registration of this divorce in Romania can seem complex, but it is crucial for the proper updating of civil status and personal documents. This article details the necessary steps for recognizing and registering a Norwegian divorce in Romania, including the importance of apostille and the requirements of the exequatur process.

The Exequatur Process: Recognizing the Foreign Judgment

If a Romanian citizen did not have Norwegian citizenship at the time of the divorce, the Norwegian divorce decree must first be recognized in Romania through an exequatur process. Exequatur is a legal procedure through which a foreign judgment is recognized and enforced in Romania. This process is necessary to ensure that the divorce decree meets Romanian legal standards and can be applied within the Romanian legislative framework.

Apostille: Validating the Foreign Judgment

Before presenting the Norwegian divorce decree to Romanian authorities, it is essential to apply an apostille to the document. Norway, as a member of the Hague Convention on Apostille, allows this form of international legalization. The apostille guarantees the document’s authenticity and makes it acceptable in all signatory countries, including Romania.

Necessity of a Legalized Court Ruling

Since Norway is not a member of the European Union, the Romanian citizen must obtain a court ruling that is legally recognized in Norway to register the divorce in Romania. This court ruling certifies the official recognition of the foreign judgment and is required to complete the civil status registration procedure.

Steps to Register the Divorce

1. Apostille the Documents: Ensure that the Norwegian divorce decree is apostilled in accordance with Hague Convention requirements. This step is crucial for the document’s acceptance by Romanian authorities.
2. Obtain the Recognition Ruling (Exequatur): Apply for the exequatur process in Romania, where a court will review and recognize the foreign divorce decree.
3. Translate the Documents: The divorce decree must be translated into Romanian by an authorized translator and authenticated by a public notary in Romania.
4. Submit Documents to the Civil Status Office: After completing the exequatur process and obtaining the apostille, submit the necessary documents to the local Romanian municipality for official registration of the divorce.
5. Obtain the Civil Status Certificate: After registration, you can request a civil status certificate that will reflect the change in marital status.

According to recent data, the number of applications for the recognition of foreign divorce decrees in Romania has increased significantly in recent years, largely due to growing international mobility among Romanian citizens. Norway, with its distinct legal system and non-EU status, requires additional procedures for the validation and registration of its divorce judgments in Romania.

To begin the process of recognition and registration of a divorce from Norway, we invite you to contact us. Our team of experts is ready to guide you through each step of the process and provide the necessary support to ensure successful registration in Romania.