If you or your partner has been married before, your Danish marriage application must include documentation showing that the previous marriage has legally ended. The documents you need depend on your circumstances and where the divorce was issued.
Preparing the right paperwork early can help avoid requests for additional information from Familieretshuset. You can find an overview of divorce documents and every other document you might need in our guide to required documents.
You will need official documentation of your divorce, such as a divorce decree issued by a court or an administrative authority. The document must establish that your previous marriage has legally ended.
Document names and formats differ between countries. If you are unsure whether your paperwork confirms the final divorce or only an earlier stage of the proceedings, check with the issuing authority before submitting it.
Separation does not necessarily mean that your marriage has ended. If you are still legally married, you cannot proceed with a new marriage in Denmark.
A pending divorce application or an agreement to separate is therefore not enough. Wait until the divorce is legally effective and obtain the official documentation confirming this before planning your next steps.
A foreign divorce document may need additional preparation before it can be used in Denmark. The requirements depend on the issuing country and the document itself.
If the document is not in Danish, English or German, arrange a translation by an authorised translator and submit it together with the original-language document. Any apostille endorsements or legalisation stamps must also be translated where required.
Depending on the issuing country, an apostille or legalisation may be necessary to confirm the document’s authenticity. This is separate from confirming that the divorce is legally effective. Check the requirements before paying for translations or certification.
Our guides to document translations and what an apostille is explain these topics further.
A divorce decree is not the appropriate document in every situation. If your former spouse has passed away, you will need a death certificate. If the marriage was annulled, you will need official documentation of the annulment.
These documents may also require translation, an apostille or legalisation, depending on where they were issued.
Before submitting your application, make sure you have the document confirming how your previous marriage ended, together with any required translation and authentication.
At Wedding Planner Denmark, we review your paperwork and help you understand what is needed for your situation. If you are uncertain about your divorce documents, contact us for guidance before submitting your application. We can also help you with the entire application process if needed.
If you have already received an approval letter from Danish Agency of Family Law (Familieretshuset) but cannot find an available wedding date at a Danish town hall, we can help.
Wedding Planner Denmark assists couples in finding an available ceremony date and reserving a time slot at a town hall in Denmark.
Feel free to contact us for more information.
