Divorce

You file for divorce with the court. Afterward, your attorney, you, or your former spouse must request that the divorce be registered with the municipality or the Civil Affairs Department of the Public Entity of Bonaire where you were married.

What does this product or service mean?

To file for divorce, you must go to the court. You will need a lawyer for this. The divorce is not official until the Civil Affairs Department of the Public Entity of Bonaire registers it in the civil registry.

How do you apply for this?

Here’s how to request registration of a divorce:

You file for divorce with the court. You will need a lawyer for this.
The lawyer files a petition with the court.
Your lawyer sends the court’s decision to the Civil Affairs Department of the Public Entity of Bonaire. You can also report this yourself to the Civil Affairs Department of the Public Entity of Bonaire. Your former spouse may also do this. You do this at the Civil Affairs Department of the Public Entity of Bonaire.
You must send the following documents to the Civil Affairs Department of the Public Entity of Bonaire:
- a written request for registration in the civil registry;
- proof of the court’s decision (the divorce decree);
- proof that you are not appealing the court’s decision (the documents of acquiescence).

Who can you contact?

Were you married on Bonaire but divorced outside of Bonaire? Or were you married and divorced outside of Bonaire? In that case, you must file a report with the municipality of The Hague.

How long does it take?

You must submit the written request within 6 months of the court’s final decision.

Which laws and rules apply?