Divorce in Germany

If you wish to file for divorce in Germany, you must be represented by a lawyer. The lawyer can also provide you with legal advice.

If you intend to use your German divorce certificate in Ethiopia, legalisation by the Ethiopian Embassy in Berlin may be required. Please consult our guides on the legalisation procedure.

Divorce in Ethiopia

If you wish to get divorced in Ethiopia, it is advisable to seek legal counsel from an Ethiopian lawyer.

If you intend to have your Ethiopian divorce recognized in Germany, please refer to the section below “Recognition of foreign divorces in Germany”.

Divorce in another country

Please refer to the website of the relevant German mission abroad. You can find it via the Consulate Finder of the German Federal Foreign Office.

Recognition of foreign divorces in Germany

Why is recognition of the divorce required?

Regardless of where the marriage took place, and even if you have already remarried, divorces pronounced outside the EU must be formally recognized in Germany in order to be valid under German law.

Exception: Recognition in the country of origin

A foreign divorce does not require formal recognition in Germany if:

1. both spouses are nationals of the same country and do not hold any other nationality, and
2. the divorce was granted in the country of origin of both spouses

Example: If a woman who holds only Ethiopian nationality is divorced in Ethiopia from a man who also holds only Ethiopian nationality, the divorce does not need to be formally recognized in Germany.

How do I apply for recognition of the divorce?

You must apply for the recognition of your foreign divorce at the competent state judicial authority (Landesjustizbehörde). Jurisdiction is based on the habitual residence of one of the former spouses. Therefore, the application must be submitted to the judicial authority in the state where one of the spouses resides.

If in doubt, please consult the civil registry office (Standesamt) responsible for the (last) place of residence of either spouse in Germany.

If neither spouse resides in Germany, the application must be submitted to the Senate Department for Justice, Consumer Protection and Anti-Discrimination in Berlin.