Mr T accepted a new senior role with an international company and relocated to Brazil with his wife and children. As part of their long-term residency application and financial arrangements, the Brazilian authorities requested proof that Mr T’s two previous marriages had legally ended.
One divorce had been granted by Liverpool Court and the other by Guildford Court and Family Court. Both Decree Absolutes needed to be legalised with an Apostille before they would be accepted in Brazil.
Mr T no longer had either Decree Absolute and had no idea how to get a copy of a divorce certificate whilst living overseas. He also discovered that if a Decree Absolute is to be apostilled, the Court must issue the correct version of the document with the correct Court Seal. Requesting the wrong type could result in the document being rejected for legalisation or by the Brazilian authorities, causing unnecessary delays and additional expense.
With a demanding job, family commitments and strict residency deadlines, trying to deal with two different courts and understand the Apostille process became overwhelming.
Mr T found UK Document Services whilst searching online for information about obtaining a divorce certificate in Liverpool and replacing a Decree Absolute from Guildford Court and Family Court.
He wanted one company to manage the entire process, obtain both Decree Absolutes, ensure the correct Court Seals were used, arrange the Apostilles and send everything safely to Brazil.
Wet Sealed vs Certified Decree Absolute
If your Decree Absolute is to be used overseas and requires an Apostille, it is essential to obtain the correct version from the Court.
- Wet Sealed Decree Absolute – The Court physically stamps the Decree Absolute with an official Family Court seal.
- Certified Decree Absolute – The Court asks a Judge to certify that the Decree Absolute is a true copy. The Judge then signs and dates the document.
The version you need depends on the country where the document will be used and the requirements of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
UK Document Services will establish which version is required, request the correct document from the Court, and arrange the Apostille, helping to avoid delays, additional costs and the risk of rejection.
How to Get an Apostilled Decree Absolute
- Obtaining an Apostilled Decree Absolute is straightforward with UK Document Services. Simply complete our secure online Divorce Order Form using the information you know, such as the names of both parties, the approximate date of the divorce and the court where the divorce was granted. If you require your Decree Absolute to be legalised for use overseas, simply select the Apostille option during the ordering process and complete your secure online payment.
- From that point onwards, UK Document Services manages the entire process on your behalf. We obtain the correct version of the Decree Absolute from the Court, ensuring it has either the appropriate Wet Court Seal or Certified Court Seal, arrange for it to be legalised by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and then securely dispatch the completed Apostilled document to your chosen UK or overseas address using your preferred delivery service.
- This gives you one point of contact throughout the entire process, removing the need to deal separately with the Court and the FCDO.
After reviewing Mr T’s information, we identified the correct courts, requested both Decree Absolutes and ensured that each court issued the correct Court Seals for Apostille purposes.
Once received, we arranged for both documents to be legalised with Apostilles before preparing them for secure delivery to Brazil.
Mr T received two Apostilled Decree Absolutes, enabling him to satisfy the Brazilian authorities and continue his residency and legal documentation without unnecessary delay.
Apostilled Decree Absolute Dispatch Times
Decree Absolute Dispatch Times
- Standard Service – dispatch is up to 20 working days
Rapid & Priority Services are not available for divorce certificates.
Apostille Dispatch Times
Standard Service – dispatch is up to an additional 7 working days.
NB. Delivery time should be added to the stated estimated dispatch date.
- 1st Class Airmail (12-15 Days)
- International Tracked Service (10-12 days)
- Courier (2-6 days) – The most reliable delivery option
How UK Document Services helps:
- One simple online order for multiple Decree Absolutes.
- We deal directly with different courts on your behalf.
- We ensure the correct documents are obtained for the Country needing the documents and for the Apostille.
- We arrange the Apostille process from start to finish.
- Secure delivery to Brazil using your preferred postage option.
- One dedicated point of contact throughout.
Need how to get a copy of a divorce certificate or require an Apostilled Decree Absolute for use overseas?
Complete our online Divorce Order Form today and let UK Document Services handle the entire process—from obtaining your Decree Absolute to arranging the Apostille and delivering your documents anywhere in the world.
