HOW TO VERIFY A DIVORCE CERTIFICATE IN CAMEROON
The procedure to verify a divorce certificate in Cameroon commences by obtaining a copy of a particular divorce certificate to be verified. To verify divorce status in Cameroon, someone must personally visit the appropriate court registry.
Upon the successful completion of divorce proceedings in Cameroon, the Judge would issue a decree nisi through a full judgment of the court dissolving the marriage. The decree nisi would usually become absolute. The decree absolutely permanently dissolving the marriage, becomes the divorce certificate.
STEPS TO VERIFY DIVORCE CERTIFICATE IN CAMEROON
A person who wants to verify a divorce certificate in Cameroon can either employ the services of a solicitor to carry out the verification or he can conduct the verification personally.
The principal legislation governing divorce proceedings in Cameroon is the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. The Act provides that a divorce petition can only be instituted in the High Court of a region in Cameroon. Essentially, the following steps must be followed to verify a divorce certificate in Cameroon:
- The decree absolute together with or without the decree nisi should be taken to the registry of the High Court where the marriage was dissolved and where the order was issued.
- The application to search will be made at the court registry, to confirm the genuineness of the divorce documents.
- Requisite fees as prescribed at the court’s registry will as well be paid. If a solicitor is hired, the applicant will also pay the solicitor’s professional fees.
- Upon confirmation of the genuineness of the divorce certificate, an application may be made for a certified true copy of the decree absolute and the decree nisi evidencing the genuineness of the decree.
As earlier stated, a person can either conduct the above-stated steps personally or employ the services of a solicitor. It is however best advised that a person should employ the services of a solicitor to carry out the verification to avoid hiccups.
Finally, it is worth of mention that a Cameroonian divorce certificate cannot be verified online. There is no database to verify all divorces in Cameroon. A person or an institution seeking to verify a divorce certificate in Cameroon issued in any Cameroonian court must personally apply at the registry of the court or hire a solicitor to do so.
Article by Barr. Mafany Victor Ngando
“The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstance”