Divorce decree sworn translation into Spanish to remarry in Spain

The decree or final order is translated in full, with every stamp and the apostille.

We are not affiliated with the Registro Civil or any Spanish court. We translate; we do not advise on the law.

What does an official Spanish translation of a divorce decree include?

An official Spanish translation of a divorce decree covers every page of the judgment or final order. That includes the court, case number, parties, date, ruling, stamps and apostille. At the end, the MAEC-appointed sworn translator certifies the translation, signs, seals it and adds the MAEC number.

In Spain, when an office asks for an official or "certified" translation, it means a sworn translation (traducción jurada) by a MAEC-appointed translator. A certified translation made outside Spain, for example by a UK or US translator, is not a sworn translation. Most Spanish offices won't accept it. The Spanish translation of your divorce decree keeps the original layout, so the registry can match each page.

How much does it cost to translate a divorce decree into Spanish?

A one-page divorce certificate costs from €29 and is ready in 24–48 hours. A full divorce decree or court judgment costs from €59, with the apostille included. Your quote confirms the total for longer decrees.

Divorce certificate sworn translation and decree prices

These are starting prices. For your final price, send your details through the quote form. We email you a written quotation, and work starts only after you approve it.

As an indicative market range, sworn translations in Spain cost about €30–120 a page. That is roughly €30–80 for the first page and €15–40 for later pages (Cronoshare, January 2026). This is a market range, not our price. Other documents: see our fixed prices. For your own decree, get a fixed quote for your divorce decree from a scan.

Wedding or registry date coming up?

Enter your wedding, expediente or registry date when you upload, and we quote a delivery date before you pay. Faster options are on our urgent sworn translation page.

Which divorce document does Spain need?

Spain usually needs the final divorce decision from the court or authority that granted it. In England and Wales, a divorce ends with a final order, or a decree absolute for older cases. Registries and courts also check that the decision is final. Ask which version your office wants.

Whether a short divorce certificate in Spanish is enough, or the full decree is needed, depends on the office. EU decisions come with an article 36 certificate. UK wording: GOV.UK, finalise your divorce.

When do I need a divorce decree in Spain?

You need a divorce decree in Spain when your earlier marriage matters to a Spanish procedure. The main cases are marrying again in Spain, applying for Spanish nationality, bringing a new spouse through family reunification and dealing with an inheritance. Each office decides which version it accepts.

Do I need my divorce decree translated to marry in Spain?

Yes, if you were married before and the decree is not in Spanish. The Registro Civil needs proof that the earlier marriage ended in the marriage file (expediente matrimonial). The decree is apostilled or legalised, then sworn-translated, with the birth certificate sworn translation and a certificate of marital status. Registries prefer recent documents, ideally issued within the last 3–6 months; check with your registry. See Registro Civil sworn translation and our guide to getting a certificate of no impediment for Spain.

Divorce decree sworn translation for Spanish nationality

Nationality files need documents "debidamente traducidos y legalizados", with no translator type named, so a sworn translation is the safe choice. A marriage certificate is required where relevant, so ask whether your file also needs the decree. See Spanish nationality sworn translation.

Divorce decree for family reunification or inheritance

Family reunification covers only one spouse, so a consulate may ask for proof that an earlier marriage ended. See family reunification Spain sworn translation. In an inheritance, notaries may ask for a divorce decree to confirm civil status, often with a death certificate sworn translation. See sworn translation for property and inheritance in Spain.

Must a foreign divorce be recognised in Spain?

It depends where the divorce was granted. A final divorce from an EU member state is recorded without a special procedure under Brussels II ter. A divorce from outside the EU needs recognition, either by court exequatur or directly by the Registro Civil after checks.

Does an EU divorce need a sworn translation in Spain?

Under Brussels II ter (Reg. 2019/1111, art. 30), no special procedure is needed to update civil-status registers after a final EU divorce. You present a copy of the decision and the article 36 certificate (art. 31). A translation of the certificate can be required. The decision itself is translated only if the authority cannot proceed without it. No legalisation applies.

Consulates may still ask for a sworn translation. The Spanish Consulate in Frankfurt asks for the final judgment, the "Anexo II" certificate under article 36 and a "traducción jurada al idioma español".

How is a divorce from outside the EU recognised in Spain?

Under Ley 20/2011 art. 96, a final foreign judgment is entered through exequatur, or directly by the Encargado of the Registro Civil after checks. The checks cover authenticity, jurisdiction, notice to the parties and public policy (Ley 20/2011, BOE). Under art. 95, documents not in Spanish need a translation by a competent body or official. A sworn translation has official status, so it is the safe route.

An exequatur application needs the judgment, legalised or apostilled, proof that it is final and "las traducciones pertinentes" (Ley 29/2015, art. 54). Filing through a lawyer from abroad? See power of attorney sworn translation. Last checked: 1 October 2026.

Need exequatur yourself because a property or inheritance depends on the divorce? See property and inheritance translations for individuals. For family-law firms: see court documents sworn translation and sworn translation for law firms in Spain.

Which apostille does a divorce decree need, by country?

A divorce decree from outside the EU usually needs an apostille, or legalisation where the Apostille Convention does not apply. The authority depends on the country that issued it. EU decisions under Brussels II ter need no legalisation. Get the apostille first, then order the translation.

Your divorce decree by country

Order of steps: apostille before sworn translation. Need the apostille arranged? See apostille and sworn translation.

Which pages of my divorce decree should I upload?

Upload every page of the final decree or certificate, including the court's stamps and the apostille or legalisation. Add your passport photo page so we can match names. If your name changed at marriage, send the marriage certificate too. Originals are never needed.

• Every page, including court stamps on the back.
• The article 36 certificate for EU decisions.
• Your passport. Where spellings differ, the translator adds a translator's note.

Browse every document we translate. For the earlier marriage itself, see marriage certificate sworn translation. Decrees in English go through our English to Spanish sworn translation service.

Why do divorce decree translations get sent back, and how do we prevent it?

We check these formal points first; recognition itself is decided by the registry or court:

• Interim order sent. We check the decision is final before translating.
• Apostille added later. We translate only once it is on.
• Stamps skipped. Every stamp and marginal note is translated.
• Unverified translator. Anyone can look the translator up in the official MAEC search (Buscador-STIJ).

Remarrying in Spain: how do I know this translation will hold up?

You can check the key facts before you pay, whether your decree comes from a Texas court or an Indian family court. Every translator we work with holds a MAEC appointment as Traductor-Intérprete Jurado. The seal on each page can be matched on the official MAEC list. If the Registro Civil rejects the translation on formal grounds, we redo it free and with priority.

• Is the translator real? Each one holds every registration and authorisation Spain requires for sworn translation. Here is how to verify a Spanish sworn translator.
• What if the registry rejects it? Free, prioritised re-issue if rejected on formal grounds. See how a free re-issue works.
• Is my data safe? Court decrees hold family details, so files are deleted within 7 days of delivery. See our privacy policy.
• Wedding or appointment date close? Use our urgent sworn translation service.

Frequently asked questions

How do I order a sworn translation of my divorce decree?

Upload a scan of every page of your divorce decree and its apostille, with your registry or appointment date. We check that the decision is final and that names match your passport. You see the fixed price and delivery date before paying.

We only translate. We never sell appointments.