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Divorced in the United States? Have your divorce recognized in Brazil without travelling.

Recognition of a foreign divorce in Brazil so your marital status is updated, you can remarry and dispose of assets. We handle the registry route and the court route, without you leaving the United States.

Request a review of my case Document review and written proposal within 48h
2.000+International clients served
2.500+Cases handled in Brazil
14 yearsPrivate International Law
19 yearsPracticing law in Brazil
This is for you if

Situations we handle

If your case fits one of these scenarios, our team runs the whole procedure in Brazil with no need for you to travel.

Legal warning

The cost of waiting: the danger of not having the divorce recognized in Brazil

Until it is recognized, Brazil still considers you married. That blocks a new marriage, complicates the sale of property and can turn an ex-spouse into an heir if you die before the records are updated.

How we settle it

From your first call in the United States to delivery in Brazil

Service in your own time zone in the United States (in Portuguese, English or Spanish) and execution in person at registries and courts in any Brazilian state.

01

Review and drafting

We review your documents and build the legal strategy that best fits your case.

02

Translation and apostille

We arrange the sworn translation and the Hague Apostille with no hassle.

03

Execution in Brazil

Our team files and follows the case in person at registries and courts.

04

Document delivery

You receive the certificate or recorded document digitally and by physical mail.

Possible routes

The right route depends on your case

Each route carries different requirements and costs. Reviewing your documents we determine which applies — and the estimated timeline goes in writing in the proposal, before any payment.

01

Direct filing at the registry

A consensual divorce with no assets, custody or support. Straight to the registry.

02

Recognition at the Superior Court

The judgment also decided assets, custody or support. Those parts go to the STJ.

03

International service of process

A contested divorce: you must prove the other party was properly served abroad.

Paperwork

What you will normally need

A simplified list of the documents usually required to start the procedure.

The exact list for your case comes with the initial review — we ask only for what is needed, with no pointless paperwork.

Who handles your case

Lawyers licensed by the Brazilian Bar, with a life in both countries

Service in your own time zone in the United States — and execution in person at registries and courts in any Brazilian state.

Aline Guedes, attorney, Brazilian Bar MG 117.070, partner at Guedes & Deschamps

Aline Guedes

OAB/MG 117.070

14 years in Private International Law and more than 2,000 Brazilian and foreign clients served. Law degree from PUC Minas, MBA from FGV, international training in Belgium (Louvain) and Australia (Newcastle). Former professor at PUC Minas.

Reinaldo Deschamps, attorney, Brazilian Bar SC 23.817, partner at Guedes & Deschamps

Reinaldo Deschamps

OAB/SC 23.817

19 years of practice and more than 2,500 cases in Brazil, in civil, contract and real estate law. Former court-appointed defender for the Bar of Santa Catarina, a Brazilian and American citizen, he has lived in Florida since 2016 and serves clients in three languages.

Regina Deschamps, legal assistant at Guedes & Deschamps in the United States

Regina Deschamps

Legal Assistant

Law graduate with advanced training in International Family Law. She is the one who receives and organizes your case in the United States: document review, case follow-up, liaison with the team in Brazil and service in your own time zone.

Frequently asked

Frequently asked questions about foreign divorce recognition

Is my American divorce valid in Brazil straight away?

No. It exists in the United States, but produces no effect in Brazilian records until it is recognized there. Until then, Brazil still treats you as married.

When does the case have to go to the Superior Court?

When the ruling is not purely consensual — disputed property division, contested custody or a decision handed down against one party. Consensual divorces can be recorded directly at the registry.

Do I need my ex-spouse to sign anything?

Not for the recognition itself. What matters is the foreign ruling and its documents. The case review says exactly what is required in your situation.

Does the apostille have to be done in the United States?

Yes. The divorce decree is apostilled in the state that issued it, and we arrange the sworn translation in Brazil.

How long does the procedure take?

It depends on the route and the registry or court involved. You receive a realistic estimate in writing in the proposal, before you commit.

&
Law without borders · Trust without limits

Your divorce recognized in Brazil, settled from here.

It takes two minutes to fill in. A Brazilian lawyer reviews your case and replies in writing with what can be done, how long it takes and what it costs.

  • A written proposal within 48 hours
  • Scope, timeline and fees agreed before we start
  • You travel neither to Brazil nor to the consulate
  • Bar-licensed lawyers, serving you in your own time zone
2,000+ clients served · written proposal within 48h

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