Why Is It Necessary?

If your divorce was granted by a court outside of Malaysia, it is not automatically recognized under Malaysian law. Without official recognition by the High Court of Malaya, the foreign divorce order has no legal effect in Malaysia. This means: -
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• You cannot remarry legally in Malaysia.
• Your marital status remains unchanged in the eyes of local authorities.
• You may face legal complications involving property division, inheritance, or child custody.

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To update your marital status at JPN (National Registration Department), remarry, or manage legal matters such as property division or child custody in Malaysia, you must obtain a court order from the High Court of Malaya that formally recognizes your foreign divorce.

Who Should Apply?

You may need to apply for recognition if you fall into any of the following categories: -
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• Malaysian citizens divorced abroad
• Foreigners previously married to Malaysians
• Individuals planning to remarry in Malaysia
• Anyone needing to update records at the National Registration Department (JPN)

​Application Requirements

When applying for legalisation / recognition of foreign divorce order, you will generally need to prepare the following: -
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• MyKad (IC)​
• Malaysian birth certificate
• Foreign divorce certificate / order (with English Translation if needed)
• Supporting documents from the foreign authority (if required)

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Note: Additional documents may be require. We will review your documents and advise if anything additional is required based on your specific circumstances.

How We Can Help

At TEH & YU, we assist clients in the following: -
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• Review and assessment of your foreign divorce documents
• Preparation and filing of the recognition application in the High Court of Malaya
• Drafting of affidavits and supporting documents
• Court representation until the recognition order is granted
• Guidance on next steps (e.g., updating JPN records, application for letters verifying marital status)

​We are committed to making this legal process stress-free and efficient, with a transparent approach to fees and timelines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I remarry in Malaysia without the recognition order?
A: No, the JPN requires a court order to recognise your foreign divorce order.
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Q: Do both parties need to file for recognition?
A: Not necessarily. Most recognition applications can be filed unilaterally by one party, especially if the divorce is final and no further disputes exist.
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Q: What if my divorce order is in a foreign language?
A: We are able to assist with certified translations for specific languages. Kindly reach out to us to check if your document can be covered.

Get In Touch

​Contact us for a consultation and let our team assist you.

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