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What to Send Us
- A copy of the court decision, or just the case number and the names of both parties if you do not have it, and we will retrieve it from the court archive
- The name of the city or district court that issued the decision (e.g. Krasnodar City Court, Sochi District Court)
- The country where you need the apostilled decision, so we can flag any extra requirements that country expects
- A copy of your passport or ID, so the name on our request matches your identity documents
- A mailing address abroad for courier delivery, plus a phone number, email, or Telegram handle for updates
Why a Court Decision Matters — and What That Stamp Means
Many foreign registrars and family courts will not accept just a ZAGS marriage certificate as proof of divorce. They want the actual court decision — the ruling that formally dissolved the marriage. That decision only carries legal weight once it enters into force, which happens after any appeal period expires. The Russian court stamps the decision with an “entered into force” notation (отметка о вступлении в законную силу), and that stamped copy is what foreign authorities recognize as proof of a valid, final divorce. Some countries go further and require an apostille on the decision, some require an exequatur (formal recognition of the judgment), and some require a certified translation of the decision text itself. We handle the document side — obtaining the certified copy with the stamp, apostille, and translation — and you can take those to whichever foreign office you need. We are not lawyers and cannot advise on recognition rules in your specific country; those rules differ significantly from country to country.
If you have the original court decision and want to skip retrieval, we can work from that. If you no longer have your copy, the court keeps its records and we can request a certified copy using a power of attorney, so you do not need to return to Russia. Once we have the certified copy with the “entered into force” stamp, we send it for apostille by the regional court authority, and then provide a certified translation in the language your destination country expects, all while the original travels to you by international courier.
No Translation Error Guarantee
If a foreign office rejects our translation specifically because of a translation error on our part, we correct it and re-notarize the translation at no charge.
Applies to our own translation and notarization work; does not cover a specific receiving office's requirement (such as an exequatur or a second apostille), or documents that were incomplete or illegible when we received them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
My divorce was in a Russian court — what exactly does a foreign registrar need?
That depends on the registrar's country, and rules vary widely. Some accept an apostilled ZAGS marriage certificate. Others require the actual court decision with apostille. Still others ask for an exequatur (formal legal recognition of the judgment) before the decision is valid. Tell us your destination country and we will tell you which combination we can provide — we handle the document side (certified copy, apostille, translation), but we cannot advise on your specific country's legal requirements. A lawyer in that country is the safest source for that.
What is the 'entered into force' stamp, and why does it matter?
Once a court decision is final — after any appeal period expires — the court stamps it with a notation in Russian (отметка о вступлении в законную силу) confirming it has entered into force. That stamp is what proves the divorce is final and legally binding. Foreign authorities look for that stamp as part of their verification that the judgment is valid. Without it, the decision would still be subject to appeal in Russia, and foreign authorities often will not recognize it until that stamp appears.
Can I get the apostille without a certified translation, or do I need both?
Apostille and translation are separate services. The apostille authenticates the document itself under the Hague Convention; the translation makes the text readable in your destination language. Many countries require both, but some accept just the apostilled original if they have their own translators. Tell us which country you need it for and we will advise whether you need the translation.
Can you apostille court documents, or is that only for ZAGS certificates?
Court decisions can be apostilled, but the process and authority differ from ZAGS documents. An apostille on a court decision is placed by the regional court authority, not the ZAGS office, and it still follows the 1961 Hague Convention. We handle apostilles on Russian court decisions as a standard service.
What is the difference between a divorce court decision and a divorce certificate from ZAGS?
The ZAGS certificate (свидетельство о разводе) is a simplified one-page document issued by the civil registry office after a divorce is registered. The court decision (решение суда о расторжении брака) is the full judgment issued by the court that originally granted the divorce. For remarriage abroad, some countries accept the ZAGS certificate; others require the court decision itself, or both. The decision carries more legal detail and is often required in family-law proceedings or immigration files.
How long does the whole process take, from order to delivery?
Processing and the apostille itself usually take 7 to 14 business days if you already have the court decision. If we need to retrieve it from the court archive first, add 10 to 20 business days before the apostille clock starts. A certified translation adds 3 to 5 business days after we have the apostilled copy. Once apostille and translation are complete, international courier delivery typically adds 2 to 5 weeks to the EU or US.
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You May Also Need
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Apostille & Translation Service
For court documents issued outside the regional court's reach, we can apostille a notarized copy with certified translation.
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Divorce Certificate Apostille & Translation
If you only need the ZAGS divorce certificate (not the full court decision) apostilled and translated.
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Power of Attorney (Notarized)
If you need to authorize someone in Russia to request the court decision on your behalf.
Ready when you are
Send a scan of the court decision, or just the case number and the court's name — you will have a fixed price and an honest deadline answer within 2 hours during working hours, and you pay nothing until you approve.
