Register your foreign marriage, divorce or a death in Guatemala
Events that happen abroad do not appear automatically in Guatemala's civil registry. We notarize the apostilled foreign document and register it with RENAP. You can send us the documents from where you live.
At a glance
- Events
- Marriage, divorce or death abroad
- How
- Notarization of the apostilled document
- Registry
- RENAP
- Fees
- Free quote on WhatsApp
Key facts
- Service
- Registration with RENAP of marriages, divorces and deaths that took place abroad
- Document
- Original foreign certificate or judgment, apostilled
- Language
- Certified translation into Spanish if needed
- Divorce
- Requires court authorization to enforce the foreign judgment in Guatemala
- From abroad
- Send us the documents; no travel needed
- Timeline
- We confirm it when we review your case
Is this for you?
Common situations.
You married abroad
And your marriage is not on record in Guatemala.
You divorced abroad
And Guatemala still shows you as married.
A relative died abroad
And the death must be registered, for example for an inheritance.
What we need for each event
In every case, the foreign document must be original and apostilled.
Marriage
Foreign marriage certificate, original and apostilled, and the Guatemalan spouses' DPI or passport.
Divorce
Certified copy of the divorce judgment, original and apostilled; proof that it is final; and both former spouses' RENAP birth certificates.
Death
Foreign death certificate, original and apostilled; the deceased's Guatemalan DPI or passport; and the applicant's DPI.
How it works
Divorces add a court step.
Review
We check that the document is apostilled and complete.
On WhatsAppTranslation
Certified translation into Spanish, if needed.
If not in SpanishNotarization
We notarize the document; for divorces, we also request court authorization to enforce the judgment.
Depends on the caseRegistration
We file with RENAP and deliver the registered certificate.
We confirm it per caseTimelines and fees
We confirm the timeline when we review your case; divorces also involve a Guatemalan court. Message us on WhatsApp for a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to register my foreign marriage in Guatemala?
To have it on record with RENAP, yes: the apostilled foreign certificate is notarized and the notarial copy is filed with RENAP.
Is my foreign divorce valid in Guatemala?
To have effects in Guatemala, the foreign judgment needs authorization from the competent Guatemalan court, and then it is registered with RENAP. The judgment must be final.
Does the document need an apostille?
Yes. If it is not in Spanish, it must also be translated by a certified translator.
Do I have to travel to Guatemala?
No. You can send us the documents from where you live.
What about a child born abroad?
That has its own procedure: see register a child born abroad.
Lic. Sergio Alvarez
Lic. Sergio Alvarez regularly helps Guatemalans in the United States, Spain and Canada keep their civil status correct in Guatemala.
- Attorney and Notary — Universidad Francisco Marroquín
- LL.M. in Finance — Universidad Francisco Marroquín
- MBA — Universidad Francisco Marroquín
- Master in Management — Tulane University
- Specialization in Corporate Law — Universidad del Istmo
- Diploma in Finance — INCAE Business School and Georgetown University
Let's register your document
Tell us what happened, in which country, and whether the document is already apostilled. We will reply with the steps and a quote.