The registration of a divorce in Italy takes place through this Consular Chancellery, based on Law 218/1995, and is possible if the applicant resides within our consular jurisdiction, is registered with the AIRE, and the divorce was pronounced in the United States.
Verify that you are in the correct jurisdiction here and update your address if necessary via Fast It.
Before sending the documentation related to the divorce to the Consulate, please contact the Civil Status Office (stcivile.washington@esteri.it) for a preliminary check of the completeness of the documentation to be sent to Italy.
Normally, this documentation will be transmitted to the municipality where the marriage is registered. Note that the municipality in question may be different from that of the applicant’s AIRE registration.
It is essential that all names and surnames on the divorce decree match those on the marriage certificate. In the case of a non-Italian ex-spouse who has changed his or her name and/or surname, this must be expressly stated in the documents.
If the divorce to be registered is not the first, make sure that the previous marriage and subsequent divorce have been duly registered.
Required documents and instructions
- Certified copy or original of the divorce decree, not subject to further appeal and bearing an apostille.
Non-appeal can be demonstrated in the following alternative forms, equally valid for this purpose:
- Certified copy of the “Statement of No Appeal/No Appeal pending” or “Certificate of the Clerk” requested from the same Superior Court that issued the divorce decree
- An “ink stamp” on the divorce decree itself that will be issued by the Court Clerk, or
- An “Affidavit” certificate issued by the personal legal counsel, provided he or she is authorized to certify such a circumstance in the state where the divorce was issued.
The purpose is to certify that the judgment is final and there are no pending appeals.
It is important to note that both the final judgment and the certificate of non-appeal must be legalized with an apostille issued by the state in which the court issued the judgment.
- Translation into Italian of both the judgment and the non-appeal certificate, certified as true to the original in English. Note: Every element of the text, including marginal notes, stamps, and signatures, must be translated (the apostille does not need to be translated).
Given the technical nature of the language used, it is advisable to choose a professional translation service with adequate legal expertise (see here a list of translators).
- The request must be signed only by the Italian citizen who is requesting the registration. Complete the form carefully and legibly.
- Include all names and surnames.
- Provide a valid email address to receive confirmation of the divorce registration from the relevant Italian municipality.
- Registration request for the mayor of the Italian municipality where the marriage was registered.
- Copy of an identification document, preferably also of the ex-spouse.
Send all documentation by mail (we recommend using a service that offers tracking):
Embassy of Italy in Washington D.C.
ATTN: Consular Section (Stato Civile)
3000 Whitehaven Street NW
Washington, DC 20008
Divorce judgments issued in other countries
If a divorce judgment was NOT issued by a U.S. authority, for the translation and legalization thereof, please consult the website of the Italian consulate jurisdictionally responsible for the country where the judgment was pronounced. The procedure to follow may vary depending on the country where the judgment was issued, according to agreements in force with that country. Find your consulate of competence here.
Example: For a divorce judgment issued in Buenos Aires (Argentina), check the website of the Italian Consulate General in Buenos Aires.
Once the consulate responsible for the jurisdiction has certified the divorce judgment, you may proceed to request the registration thereof in Italy through this Consular Chancellery.