If you are an American service member stationed on Okinawa, facing a divorce is stressful enough without adding overseas complications. Between upcoming PCS moves, deployments, and navigating BAH changes, waiting six to twelve months for a US family court to process your paperwork is often not an option.
Fortunately, completing the process locally on Okinawa offers a much faster route—taking roughly one month from start to finish—but it requires navigating the Japanese legal system correctly.
The Okinawa Family Court Requirement A common misconception is that foreign couples can file for a quick mutual consent divorce at a local city or ward office. Because both parties are US citizens, local municipal offices cannot process your paperwork. US-to-US divorces on Okinawa must be handled exclusively through the Okinawa Family Court.
A Complex Process Managed for You Navigating the Japanese Family Court as a foreigner is a highly complex, document-heavy process that you cannot complete alone. That is exactly where our team steps in.
David and Hazuki manage the entire procedure from start to finish, ensuring no errors delay your timeline. We take care of the heavy lifting so your only responsibilities are simple: visit our office to prepare the initial paperwork, and attend your scheduled hearing date at the Family Court.
End-to-End Military Compliance for IPAC or DEERS Once the Family Court finalizes the divorce, getting divorced under Japanese law is only the first step. To officially update your military records, adjust housing allowances, and clear JAG and DEERS, the military requires a certified English translation of your Japanese court documents.
We provide these precise, certified translations as part of our end-to-end service. Our office ensures that the military bureaucracy accepts your paperwork without delay.
If you need to resolve your marital status quickly and correctly, visit Dave Higgins Office to get started. Let us handle the Family Court requirements and document translations so you can focus on your next chapter.