Hello everyone.

My girlfriend and I are living in Frankfurt. She is Portuguese and the Bürgeramt office is asking for a translation of her divorce documents (from her previous marriage). The  Bürgeramt officer said that the documents must be translated into German. But we are not sure if these documents have to be notarized in Portugal, notarized in Germany, etc. etc.

Has anyone has a similar experience and have some advice to offer?

Thanks in advance

You could have asked at the Bürgeramt.

As far as I see your issue your friend needs to have the original of her divorce papers or a notarised copy of it (notarised in Portugal, provided she was divorced in Portugal, if not, in the country she got her divorce).

With these papers you go to an Ermächtigten Translator in Germany. The translator prepares a translation and authenticates the translation.

This is what your Bürgeramt is asking for.

Your key words for an Internet search are: Ermächtigter Übersetzer

And next time you ask the Bürgeramt immediately when you are not sure.

By the way the official language in Germany is German...

Cheers,

Cronenberger

Was the divorce in portugal?

For EU-decisions, except denmark, the COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2201/2003 is used.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2003:338:0001:0029:en:PDF

According to Article 39 you can get a "CERTIFICATE REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 39 CONCERNING JUDGMENTS IN MATRIMONIAL MATTERS" as shown in Annex I.

Maybe they can even print that certificate in german?


Zitat:

Article 52 Legalisation or other similar formality No legalisation or other similar formality shall be required in respect of the documents referred to in Articles 37, 38 and 45 or in respect of a document appointing a representative ad litem.