International Divorce Issues
A marriage with assets, family, or a prior proceeding in another country raises questions that a purely domestic case does not: which country’s courts may hear the matter, whether a foreign judgment will be recognised here, and how documents and process move between jurisdictions. Those questions are usually decided early and they shape everything after. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. handles these matters. Call (888) 437-7747.
Marriage Recognition
Under the doctrine of lex loci celebrationis, a marriage validly contracted under the law of the place where it was celebrated is presumptively recognised as valid by United States courts, subject to narrow public policy exceptions. A marriage is not required to be proved merely because it took place abroad. An apostille authenticates the origin of a document under the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention; it does not by itself make a foreign marriage or judgment valid or recognised.
Service Abroad
Where a party must be served in another country, the applicable convention governs the method. India, for example, is a contracting party to the 1965 Hague Service Convention but has objected to Article 10, so service there must go through the designated Central Authority and postal or private process server service is not permitted. Central Authority service is one route rather than the only mechanism; alternative service authorised by the forum state may also be available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my foreign marriage valid here?
Presumptively yes, where it was validly contracted under the law of the place of celebration, subject to narrow public policy exceptions. An apostille authenticates a document’s origin but is not a precondition of recognition.
How is a party served in India?
India is party to the 1965 Hague Service Convention and has objected to Article 10, so service goes through India’s designated Central Authority. Postal, judicial officer, and private agent service are barred. Alternative service authorised by the forum state may be available as a separate route.
Does India participate in the Hague Abduction Convention?
No. India is not a contracting party to the 1980 Hague Abduction Convention, so that Convention’s return mechanism does not apply to a child wrongfully removed to or retained in India.
About Mr. Sris
Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., has practiced since 1997. He is a former prosecutor, and that experience shapes how he builds a documentary record. He is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. His background at George Mason University in accounting and information systems applies to complex financial and technology-related cases, which is where a contested property dispute usually turns. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys handle these matters together, with the division of work set at the start of the engagement.
Speak With Mr. Sris
Request a consultation. Reach our location at (888) 437-7747. Bring tax returns, statements for every account, any agreement signed before or during the marriage, entity documents for any business interest, and a short written timeline. That material lets the first conversation move past intake and into the questions that decide the case.
Last updated: August 25, 2026
This page provides general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship. The law differs between states, and nothing here is a substitute for advice about your own circumstances. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.
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