In addition to the fully completed and signed application form (available on the homepage of the responsible state justice administration or from the registrar), the following documents must be submitted in the original (further documents may be required in individual cases):

• Marriage certificate or extract from the family register or from the marriage register of the divorced marriage as proof of marriage.
• A complete copy or certified copy of the foreign judgment issued by the court of the issuing State, stating the facts and the reasons for it. In the case of an official divorce, a divorce certificate or an extract from the divorce register must be submitted.
• Proof of the res judicata of the foreign judgment (either by means of a final entry on the judgment, by means of a separate document or by inscription in the civil status register).
• Proof of registration in countries where it is necessary for the decision to be effective.
• Translations of all foreign-language documents made by a recognised translator in Germany.
• Certificate of earnings/income of the applicant.
• Written power of attorney if the application is made by proxy.
• Copy of the applicant's valid passport.

The documents will be returned to you after the procedure has been completed.

In principle, the originals of the documents must be provided with the legalisation of the responsible German mission abroad or with the apostille of the competent foreign home authority.

In the case of legalization , the German embassy in the country of divorce confirms that

• the signatures on the document are genuine, and
• the signatory was entitled to issue public documents.

Several states have concluded the Hague Convention of 05.10.1961 on the Exemption of Foreign Public Documents from Legalization in order to simplify over-legalization by legalization. Legalisation shall be replaced by an agreement between the contracting states pursuant to Art. 3 para. 1 of the Convention. It shall be issued by the competent authority of the State which drew up the document. According to Art. In accordance with Article 5(2) of the Convention, the apostille testifies to a rebuttable presumption as to the authenticity of the document.

Special guidelines apply to documents from countries whose notarial system is so seriously deficient in the opinion of the Federal Foreign Office that legalisation is no longer justifiable. As a rule, these documents are checked for authenticity and correctness of content by the German mission abroad by way of administrative assistance. The costs incurred as a result must be borne by the applicant.