Keeping your divorce decree safe and accessible is one of the most important steps you can take after a divorce. Read on and reach out to our skilled Somerset County divorce attorney today to learn more. At the Siragusa Law Firm, we are on your side.
Why do I need a copy of my divorce decree?
There are many important measures you will want to take post-divorce. One of them is to keep your divorce decree safe and in reach. Basically, this is the official document that establishes your divorce. In the state of New Jersey, divorce decrees have a gold seal sticker on them, and you may be asked for this “gold seal copy” for a number of reasons. It is essential that you save this document, because you may need it for more than one post-judgment matter. Some of the most common issues you will need it for can include any of the following:
1. Renew your maiden name
In order to take back your maiden name after a divorce, the divorce decree will be the document that allows you to do so. The judge will ask you about your intentions in continuing your maiden name. essentially, once a judge sees that it is an applicable request, he or she will sign the divorce judgment that has the full name you wish to resume, the last four digits of your social security number, and your birth date. Once you have the gold seal document, you can go to the Social Security office to start the procedure of switching your name back. You will have to use this document not only at Social Security, but also at the DMV, and to receive an updated passport. You may also need it to modify your name on your credit cards, although many times the credit card companies will acquire a photocopy of the divorce decree.
2. Refinance a home
In the event that you are keeping the marital residence after a divorce, you will likely have to refinance the home in order to clear your former spouse’s name and commitment from the mortgage. To do so, most mortgage lenders will ask to see the divorce decree as evidence that you are actually divorced and not trying to fool your spouse. Your lender may also want to see your Marital Settlement Agreement to decide if any explicit terms must be satisfied prior to fund your loan.
3. Re-marry
If you choose to take the plunge and re-marry, you will need your divorce decree when you apply for your marriage license. The state will want to notice that you are truly divorced and not just separated from a former spouse before they decide to issue you a new marriage license. This is because bigamy, (being legally married to more than one person at the same time), is illegal in New Jersey, it is an essential step in the process of getting married to another person.
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If you need legal representation for a matter of Family Law, Supplemental Security Income, Medical Malpractice, Social Security Disability, or Legal Malpractice, contact Siragusa Law Firm today.
