New Zealand - Obtain a Divorce Certificate

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Procedure

A divorce decree declares a divorce finalized and provides the terms of the divorce. It may contain information about child support payments, alimony and division of property. 

Apply In-Person

After you have fill your application for Divorce:

If you don’t appear in court

1. If you decide together that you don’t want to appear in court, the court will look at your forms and check that the requirements are met. The court will then make the Dissolution Order.
2. You will be legally divorced 1 month after the date the Dissolution Order is made.
3. The court will send copies to both of you.
   

If you appear in court

1. If you decide together that you want to appear in court, the court will tell you when you need to come to court. You both need to go to the court on this day.
2. A judge will make the Dissolution Order and the divorce will be official on that day.
3. The court will send copies of the Dissolution Order to both of you.

In case you need to obtain a copy of you divorce certificate

1. Contact the Family Court at which your divorce/dissolution was processed.
2. Make your request to the Court Clerk and provide the required documents for the application
3. The clerk, will process your request and issue the certificate
4. If it is not found the court you will have to contact archives, for divorce record
5. You can make an online search for an old certificate through this : link

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Required Documents

• written request
• a copy or scan of your photo identification, such as your driver licence or passport

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of Justice
Central Registry
SX10042
Wellington
Write the address as written above and send it the same way as any other mail. You can use an NZ Post mail box
Contact Information
Search for District court

Family Court
Call 0800 2 AGREE (0800 224 733) between 8:30am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday
Search for Family Court

Eligibility

• All Divorce the were processed and finalized in court of law are eligible to obtain divorce certificates.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

• Divorce certificate are valid forever or until pronounced null and void in court.

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

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Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Instructions

• For information on how to obtain a copy of your divorce papers or dissolution order, contact the Family Court at which your divorce/dissolution was processed.
• If the marriage and divorce both occurred in New Zealand, the details will be added as an endorsement to the marriage entry and will appear on any subsequently-issued marriage certificate.

Required Information

Your letter should include:

• your full name
• what you are asking for ( a copy of your dissolution order)
• phone numbers we can contact you on if we need to
• the date you were given the divorce (as close as you can)
• the case number for your divorce (if you know it)
• the address we should send the divorce certificate to.

Need for the Document

• A divorce decree declares a divorce finalized and provides the terms of the divorce. It may contain information about child support payments, alimony and division of property. Your divorce decree may be necessary to prove that you have a legal right to a certain piece of property; to use as evidence in a petition to change back to your maiden name or if you wish to get remarried.

Information which might help

Separation and Divorce

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

New Zealand Foreign Affairs and trade

Others

More information which might help people.