Navigating the divorce process can feel overwhelming, but our goal is to make it as straightforward and painless as possible for you. If you and your spouse are both US citizens, US miltary members or SOFA Status Personnel residing in Okinawa and have mutually decided to divorce, we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Key Requirements:
- Mutual Agreement: Both parties must agree to the divorce.
- Attendance at the Hearing: Both parties must attend the divorce hearing.
- US Citizenship: This process applies only to divorces between US citizens, US military, or SOFA Status Personnel.
Steps to Get Started:
- Initial Contact: Send us an email to initiate the process. We will reply with all the necessary PDF forms for you to complete, along with a checklist of required documents such as passports and your marriage certificate.
- Documentation Review: Once you submit your completed forms and documents, our team will review everything to ensure all is in order.
- Office Visit: After the review, one of you will need to visit our office to sign the application and make the payment.
- Processing and Hearing Date: We handle all the subsequent steps, including submitting your application to the Okinawa Family Court. You will be notified of your divorce hearing date once it is officially scheduled.
- Divorce Hearing: Both you and your spouse will need to attend the hearing. Following the hearing, your divorce will be legally finalized, allowing you to remarry if you choose.
- Final Steps: The official divorce decree will be sent to our office within a week. We will translate it from Japanese to English, enabling you to report the divorce on the military base or back in the United States.
This overview provides a glimpse into the process. If you have any questions or need more detailed information about any step, please don’t hesitate to reach out via email, phone message, or phone call. We are committed to making this process as seamless and professional as possible for you.