Certified translation of a Spanish divorce decree for USCIS
When you or your spouse were previously married in Spain, USCIS requires proof that the marriage legally ended: the Spanish divorce decree (sentencia de divorcio), or the notarial deed or court decree in uncontested cases, translated in full with the translator's certification under 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3). I am Elena Peñaranda Ortega, sworn translator appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2009 (no. 7310), and I deliver the signed PDF, finality statement included, the same day (up to 10 pages).
Price in US dollars
Fixed quote in 2 hoursFrom $40 for single-page certificates
- Turnaround
- Same day (up to 10 pages)
- Delivery
- Signed PDF · paper copy to the US for $25
- Payment
- In USD, by card or Wise
Calculated from my euro rates at a fixed reference rate (1 € = 1.10 $), rounded to the nearest $5.
- Verifiable Foreign Ministry (MAEC) appointment
- If the authority rejects it because of my mistake, I fix it for free
- Same-day delivery up to 10 pages, deadline in writing before you pay
What USCIS requires to prove a Spanish divorce
USCIS must see that every previous marriage ended before the current one. For a Spanish divorce the evidence is the court judgment (sentencia) or, for uncontested divorces since 2015, the court clerk's decree or the notarial deed (escritura de divorcio). The document must be final, which Spain shows with a finality statement (firmeza) added by the court.
8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3) requires a complete translation and the translator's signed certification. For a decree, "complete" is what matters: officers look for the parties, the court, the case number, the operative ruling (FALLO) and the finality statement. Translating only the first and last pages is a common cause of requests for evidence. The former marriage certificate with the divorce noted in the margin is useful supporting evidence.
What a Spanish divorce decree contains, and what I translate
A Spanish sentencia de divorcio follows a fixed structure, which I keep so the officer can navigate it:
- Heading: court (Juzgado de Primera Instancia n.º…), judgment and case numbers, judge, parties and their Procurador and Letrado.
- Facts (Antecedentes de hecho) and legal grounds (Fundamentos de derecho), citing the Civil Code and the Civil Procedure Act.
- Ruling (FALLO): dissolution, custody, child support, use of the family home, pensión compensatoria, costs.
- Settlement agreement (convenio regulador) in uncontested divorces, approved and attached.
- Finality and authentication: firmeza, the clerk's certification, court stamps, CSV code and, if present, the apostille from the regional High Court.
If your case only needs proof of termination, I tell you which pages are enough, so you do not pay to translate twenty pages of settlement terms USCIS will not read.
Why a Spanish sworn translator for a Spanish court decision
Court language is where generic translations fail. A Spanish decree is dense with procedural terms with no literal English counterpart:
- Officer titles: Magistrado-Juez, Letrado de la Administración de Justicia, Procurador, Ministerio Fiscal.
- Procedural terms: autos, providencia, auto, decreto, firmeza, testimonio, each with a distinct meaning.
- Abbreviations: Ilmo./Ilma., art., CC, LEC, LOPJ, n.º, D./D.ª.
- Family-law concepts: patria potestad versus guarda y custodia, pensión de alimentos versus pensión compensatoria.
Since 2009 I have handled these documents as sworn translator no. 7310. USCIS does not require that appointment; it is why the translation is right the first time.
What USCIS requires vs. what you get
| What USCIS requires | What you get |
|---|---|
| A full English translation (8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3)) | The whole Spanish divorce decree: every stamp, note, handwritten entry and code, including the ruling (FALLO) and the finality statement |
| Certification of completeness and accuracy | A signed, dated Certificate of Translation Accuracy per document |
| Statement of the translator's competence | My statement, backed by my appointment as sworn translator no. 7310 (Spain's Foreign Ministry, since 2009) |
| Translator's name, signature and contact details | Name, signature, stamp, email, phone and website |
| No notarisation | None needed. Paper original couriered to the US for $25 on request |
| Copy of the original | Your scan attached in the same PDF |
How I work
Send
A full scan or clear photo of your Spanish divorce decree, on WhatsApp or by email.
Quote and deadline
Fixed price in US dollars and delivery date within 2 working hours.
Translation and certification
Full English translation, stamps included, with my signed certificate.
Delivery
Signed PDF the same day for up to 10 pages; paper copy to the US for $25 on request.
What clients say
Published on Google by real clients, reproduced as written.
Great service,fast and she translates everything for a very good price and nearly instantly. I would 100% recommend her service.
Incredibly fast and efficient service. You also make the process very easy. Thankyou
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to translate the whole decree or just the ruling?
USCIS requires a complete translation of whatever you submit. A separate settlement agreement may be left out, but every page you file must be translated. I tell you which pages you need once I see the decree.
What is the firmeza, and does USCIS need it?
The court's statement that the judgment is final. USCIS needs proof the divorce is final, so if your decree lacks it, request a testimonio de firmeza from the court and I translate it too.
My divorce was signed before a notary, not a judge. Is that valid for USCIS?
Yes. Since 2015 Spanish couples without minor children can divorce by notarial deed or court clerk's decree. Both dissolve the marriage and are accepted once translated and certified.
How fast can you deliver?
Documents of up to 10 pages are translated, certified and delivered the same working day (Spain time); larger files get a written deadline before I start, normally 24-72 hours. No surcharge.
Does USCIS accept a translation made in Spain?
Yes. The regulation does not say where the translator must be or what licence they must hold; it requires a complete translation and a certification of accuracy and competence.
How do I pay from the United States?
In US dollars, by card or through Wise, once you approve the quote and deadline in writing. The dollar price quoted is the price you pay.
Need your Spanish divorce decree translated for USCIS?
Send me a scan on WhatsApp or by email and tell me which form it is for. You will have a fixed price in US dollars and a delivery date within 2 working hours.