Divorce registration, recognition and name change
Documents that close a marriage and change a name: divorce registration (Kor.Ror. 6 / Kor.Ror. 7), court judgments, recording a foreign divorce, and the change-of-name certificates that keep a paper trail intact.
Thai law ends a marriage in two ways: divorce by mutual consent registered at a district office, and divorce by court judgment. The resulting paperwork differs — the first produces the divorce register and divorce certificate; the second requires the judgment together with a certificate that it is final before the civil registry acts on it.
Foreign authorities rarely accept the divorce certificate alone; they ask for the certified copy of the divorce register showing the parties and dates. Obtain a freshly certified copy before translation and legalisation, exactly as with a marriage certificate.
For a divorce granted abroad to be reflected in Thai records, the documents are authenticated in the country of origin and by the Royal Thai Embassy, translated into Thai, the translation legalised by Consular Affairs, and then filed as a family-status record at a district office. Foreign court judgments may attract additional conditions depending on the office's practice — ask before filing.
Changing a name or surname after divorce instantly creates a gap between old and new documents. The remedy every authority accepts is to attach the change-of-name or change-of-surname certificate every time, so the reviewer can see one continuous identity.
Before remarrying, verify that the civil registry actually shows the updated status. If the record still shows a subsisting marriage, the registrar will refuse the new registration, and correcting it afterwards takes far longer than checking in advance.
Documents to prepare
- Certified copy of the divorce register (Kor.Ror. 6) and divorce certificate (Kor.Ror. 7)
- Court judgment and certificate of finality (for divorce by judgment)
- Foreign divorce documents, authenticated under local rules and by the Royal Thai Embassy
- Change-of-name / change-of-surname certificates (if applicable)
- Current national ID card and house registration
Order of steps
- Obtain a freshly certified copy of the divorce register, or the judgment plus certificate of finality
- Translate into the destination language, or into Thai for foreign documents
- Legalise the translation at the Department of Consular Affairs
- Have the destination embassy endorse it, or file the divorce family-status record at a district office
- Confirm the civil registry shows the updated status and name before taking further steps
Pre-filing checklist
- Use freshly certified copies, not photocopies
- For judgments, include the certificate of finality
- Attach change-of-name certificates whenever names differ
- Verify civil-registry status before planning a remarriage
- Confirm exactly which document the receiving authority wants
Frequently asked questions
We divorced abroad — what must be done in Thailand?
Authenticate the divorce documents under the issuing country's rules and at the Royal Thai Embassy, translate into Thai, legalise the translation at Consular Affairs, then file the divorce family-status record at a district office so Thai records match reality.
What is the difference between the divorce certificate and the divorce register copy?
The certificate (Kor.Ror. 7) is the document handed to the parties; the certified copy of the register (Kor.Ror. 6) shows the full particulars. Foreign authorities usually want the latter.
I reverted to my maiden name — what about older documents?
They remain usable, but attach the change-of-surname certificate every time so reviewers can connect the identities, and progressively update your identity documents.
How is the fee calculated?
By document type and count, language pair and the certification steps required. Please contact our team by phone, LINE or email.
For a document review before filing, contact us by LINE @nycli, phone +66-83-249-4999 or email nycli@ilc.ltd.