Updated on October 16, 2026
In 30 seconds
A German divorce judgment is not considered automatically valid in Italy. To register it you need a certificate from the German court, provided for by the European regulations, and an application to the Consulate or to the Comune (the municipality). The document changes according to the date of the judgment: since August 1, 2022, the one under EU Regulation 2019/1111 is used.
For the general picture, read the guide Italians in Germany: Legal Guide.
In this article
- What you need, based on the date of the judgment
- Who requests the document
- Practical steps
- Frequent case
- The best solution for you
- Frequently asked questions
- Official sources
What you need, based on the date of the judgment
The Italian Consulate General in Frankfurt distinguishes three cases, depending on the date of the judgment.
- Older judgments: you need the original judgment or a certified copy, the full Italian translation by an official translator, the application, a sworn declaration (atto notorio) and an identity document.
- Intermediate period: a certificate issued by the court (Amtsgericht, the German local court) under the European regulation in force at the time is enough. The full judgment is not required.
- Since August 1, 2022: you need the certificate issued by the German court under EU Regulation 2019/1111.
The consular guides do not give the cut-off dates between the first two cases in a uniform way. For this reason it is best to check the date of the judgment with the Consulate or with the firm before ordering the documents.
Who requests the document
German judgments do not reach the Consulate on their own: the person concerned must request them. The Consulate then forwards the judgments to the Comuni. Italians registered with AIRE (the register of Italians residing abroad) go to their own Comune. Judgments from non-European countries follow different rules, with legalization.
Practical steps
- Ask the German court for the judgment with the certificate of finality (Rechtskraftzeugnis) and the right certificate.
- Check the date and choose the list of documents.
- Prepare the application, the sworn declaration and the identity document.
- Send everything to the competent Consulate or to the Italian Comune. For births, the Frankfurt Consulate states that incomplete applications are not forwarded. It is best to act the same way for divorces.
- Check that the annotation has appeared on the Italian marriage certificate.
- Keep a copy for maintenance payments, successions and a new marriage.
Frequent case · A problem that happens often
Two Italian spouses, living in Munich, married in Italy and divorce before the German court. After the judgment, each thinks the other will notify the Comune. Years later, one of them wants to remarry in Italy and finds out that in the Italian registers they are still shown as married. The European certificate could have been requested right away.
Frequent case described in general terms: names, places and details do not refer to real people or cases.
The best solution for you
First: Right after the judgment, ask the German court for the judgment with the certificate of finality and the right certificate.
Then: Check the date of the judgment, prepare the application with the sworn declaration and the identity document and send it to the Consulate or to the Comune. Then check the annotation on the Italian marriage certificate.
If the office or the other side does not cooperate: If the office does not reply or the annotation is missing, write asking for the status of the file and attach the documents again.
It usually pays to: Usually it pays to request the European certificate right away, while the file is still open, without waiting years.
What to do now
- Note the date of the judgment.
- Ask the German court for the judgment, the certificate of finality and the European certificate.
- Prepare the application, the sworn declaration and the identity document.
No route guarantees an outcome.
Learn more: Legal guides from Studio Legale Fiorentino.
How attorney Fiorentino can help you
- Gather the judgment, the certificate of finality, the court certificate and the identity document.
- Check with the firm the date of the judgment and the certificate that is needed in that case.
- For the video call, have the Italian marriage certificate and the German judgment within reach.
Frequently asked questions
Is the German judgment valid in Italy right away?
It is not considered automatically valid: it must be registered, according to the Italian Consulate General in Frankfurt.
Which certificate do I need?
It depends on the date of the judgment. For those since August 1, 2022, you need the certificate under EU Regulation 2019/1111.
Where do I submit the application?
To the competent Consulate or to the Italian Comune.
Is a translation needed?
For multilingual European certificates, as a rule no. For older judgments the Consulate requires the full translation. The case should be checked.
What about agreements on children and maintenance?
They have their own rules. See the article Child Support (Unterhalt) Between Germany and Italy.
Read also
- Italians in Germany: Legal Guide
- Child Support (Unterhalt) Between Germany and Italy
- Italian and German Dual Citizenship: What Applies Today
Official sources
Institutional pages consulted; the official source always prevails for up-to-date texts.
- Italian Consulate General in Frankfurt: civil status
- Italian Embassy in Berlin: guides to consular services and succession
Where to find us
The firm is based in Naples (Piazza Giovanni Bovio 22 and Via Monte di Dio 14) and works throughout Italy; the first meeting can be held by video call.
Informational text, prepared with the help of artificial intelligence tools. Author: attorney Renato Giuseppe Fiorentino.
Do you have a similar issue?
Every situation depends on the documents of the specific case. You can contact the firm from anywhere, remotely.