Divorce Registrations (Rikon Todoke)

2024/4/1

When a Japanese citizen legally divorces abroad, they must submit the Divorce Registration so that it reflects on their Family Registry. Once you are legally divorced, please submit your Divorce Registration as soon as possible.


Required Documents

1. Two Divorce Report Forms **
- SampleOpen a new window (For a divorce between Japanese citizens)
- SampleOpen a new window (For a divorce between a Japanese and foreign citizen)
- Report forms cannot be downloaded. Please request it by mailOpen a new window.
2. Two Final Judgments Issued by the Court **
- Must be a certified copy issued after your divorce date.
- For California, this will be the FL-180 Form.
3.

One Translation Form of the Final JudgmentOpen a new window
- Anyone can fill this out in Japanese.
4.

Japanese passport AND proof of legal status in the U.S.
- Green card, visa, etc.
5.

One Contact Information Sheet
- Include your address, e-mail, and phone number. Please be sure that this phone number has voicemail and that the voicemail box is not full.

 
Additionally, you may submit one of the following registrations:
 
  1. For a divorce between Japanese citizens:
    <Registration to Keep Married Surname After Divorce>
    The spouse who changed their last name during marriage must submit this registration within 3 months of the divorce date if they wish to keep their married last name. After the deadline, they cannot submit this registration and only have the option to revert to their maiden name. To change back to their married name after the deadline, they will need to get approval from the Family Court in Japan.
  2. For a divorce between a Japanese and foreign citizen:
    <Registration to Revert to Maiden Name Due to a Divorce from a Foreign Citizen>
    If you changed your name to your foreign spouse’s last name and wish to revert back to your maiden name, you must submit this registration within 3 months of the divorce date. However, if you originally received approval from the Family Court in Japan to change your last name OR if you wish to revert back to your maiden name after the deadline, you will need to get approval from the Family Court in Japan.

Important Information

  1. If you have an alternative name written on the Final Judgment that is different from the name on your family registry, please explain in 「その他」(Eg.,「判決文にあるジョンは、山田次郎の通称である。」)
     
  2. Do not abbreviate the Registered Domicile to 「1－2」. Instead, write exactly as it shows on the Family Registry, such as「1丁目2番地」
     
  3. The Final Judgment submitted must be a certified copy issued after the divorce date.
     
  4. You must also explain that you are divorced by U.S. methods in 「その他」(E.g., 「令和○年○月○日アメリカ合衆国カリフォルニア州ロサンゼルス郡上級裁判所にて離婚判決確定。同判決謄本添付。」)
     
  5. It is no longer required to use a seal (inkan) or imprint your thumbprint. In the signature space provided, write your own name in Japanese. In the left margin, write your own name in Japanese vertically (see sample). Do not initial/sign each error.
     
  6. If you make errors, do not use white-out. Please correct the error by drawing two horizontal lines through it.
     
  7. Please send all required documents by mail. The U.S. postal system may have mail delivery issues and there have been cases where they lose mail. We recommend you use Certified Mail or a Tracking Number to monitor your mail. You may contact us a few days after delivery to confirm that we received your documents. We will only contact you if there are any issues with your submission.

Link

"What! A parent and a child traveling abroad can be kidnapping?"Open a new window

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