Recognition of foreign judgments (divorce, adoption, change of name or surname or other).
Private International Law Act No. 218/1995 provides, as a general rule, for the automatic effectiveness in Italy of foreign judgments that meet certain basic requirements of compatibility with the Italian legal system. However, foreign judgments must be transcribed at the appropriate Italian municipality.
Foreign judgments, with legalization and translation into Italian, may be submitted for transcription in Italy:
- to the Italian Municipality, directly by the interested party;
- to the Italian Consulate in whose district the judgment was issued.
To apply for transcription it is necessary to show a valid identity document and produce:
- application for transmission of the judgment in the form of a declaration in lieu of affidavit made pursuant to Article 47 of Presidential Decree 445/2000 certifying the existence of the requirements of Article 64 of Law 218/1995 in which it is declared that the judgment is final (if this does not appear in the text of the judgment), that it is not contrary to other judgments pronounced by an Italian judge and that no judgment is pending before an Italian judge for the same subject matter and between the same parties;
- full copy of the judgment complete with the requirements of Article 64, duly legalized and translated.
The Italian registrar must also verify that the judgment does not produce effects contrary to public order.
All documentation should be sent by mail to:
Consulate General of Italy
Vital Records
600 Atlantic Avenue, 17th floor
Boston, MA 02210-2206
(please specify a telephone number)
Information and forms:
• Transcription in Italy of Divorce Judgment
• Recognition of Adoption of Foreign Minor
• Recognition of Judgment of Change of Name