Convention on the recognition of divorces and legal separations

Albania

07-03-2013

The Republic of Albania declares that the term "divorce" in the context of the Convention has the same meaning as "marriage dissolution", provided for in the Albanian law.
In accordance with the first paragraph of article 19 of the Convention, the Republic of Albania reserves the right to refuse to recognize a divorce or legal separation between two spouses who, at the time of the divorce or legal separation, were nationals of the Republic of Albania and of no other State, and a law other than that indicated by the Albanian legislation for rules of private international law was applied, unless the result reached is the same as that which would have been reached by applying the law indicated by those rules.
In accordance with article 21 of the Convention, the Republic of Albania reserves the right to refuse to recognize a legal separation when, at the time it was obtained, one of the spouses was an Albanian national or of a Contracting State whose law did not provide for legal separation.
In accordance with the second paragraph of article 24 of the Convention, the Republic of Albania declares it shall apply the provisions of the Convention on the Recognition of Divorces and Legal Separations, done prior to its date of entry into force and reserves the right to not apply it if the application of provisions does not affect the property rights obtained by any person prior to the entry into force of the Convention.

Australia

24-09-1985

... the Convention extends only to the legal system applicable in the Australian States and mainland territories and Norfolk Island.

21-05-1987

The Government of Australia notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 21 May 1987, in accordance with Article 23 of the Convention, that the Convention shall henceforth apply to all of Australia's legal systems.

China

16-06-1997

In accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the Question of Hong Kong signed on 19 December 1984 (hereinafter referred to as the "Joint Declaration"), the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong with effect from 1 July 1997. Hong Kong will, with effect from that date, become a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs which are the responsibilities of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China.
It is provided both in Section XI of Annex I to the Joint Declaration, "Elaboration by the Govermnent of the People's Republic of China of its Basic Policies Regarding Hong Kong", and Article 153 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, which was adopted on 4 April 1990 by the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, that international agreements to which the People's Republic of China is not a party but which are implemented in Hong Kong may continue to be implemented in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
In accordance with the above provisions, I am instructed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China to make the following notification:
The Convention on the Recognition of Divorces and Legal Separations done at the Hague on 1 June 1970 (hereinafter referred to as the "Convention"), by which the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is designated as the depository, which applies to Hong Kong at present, will continue to apply to the Hong Kong Special, Administrative Region with effect from 1 July 1997.
Within the above ambit, responsibility for the international rights and obligations of a party to the Convention will be assumed by the Government of the People's Republic of China.
It would be appreciated if the contents of this Note could be placed formally on record and brought to the attention of the other Parties to the Convention.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.

Cyprus

13-01-1983

... the Government of the Republic of Cyprus reserves the right under para. (1) of Article 19 to refuse to recognise a divorce or legal separation between two spouses who, at the time of the divorce or legal separation, were both citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and of no other State and a law other than that indicated by the rules of Private International Law obtaining in Cyprus was applied, unless the result reached is the same as that which would have been reached by applying the law indicated by those rules.

Czech Republic

28-01-1993

The Czech Republic maintains the reservations and the declaration made by Czechoslovakia upon ratification on 12 May 1976.

Czechoslovakia (<01-01-1993)

06-02-1975

The Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia reserves the right, under Article 19 of the Convention on the Recognition of Divorces and Legal Separations concluded at The Hague on 1 June 1970, to refuse to recognise a divorce or legal separation between two spouses who at the time of the divorce or legal separation were nationals of the Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia and of no other State, and a law other than that indicated by the rules of Czechoslovak private international law was applied, unless the result reached is the same as that which would have been reached by applying the law indicated by those rules.
Similarly, the Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia reserves, under Article 24 of the Convention, the right not to apply the Convention to a divorce or to a legal separation obtained before the date on which it entered into force for the Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia.
The Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia wishes to state, in connection with Article 29 of the Convention, which accords to any State the right to apply the Convention to all territories for the international relations of which it is responsible, that keeping certain countries in a state of dependence is in its opinion contrary to the spirit and objectives of the United Nations Declaration of 14 December 1960 on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples, which declares the necessity for a speedy and unconditional end to colonialism in all its forms.

Denmark

25-06-1975

With the reservation that till ulterior decision the Convention will not be applicable to the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

Italy

19-02-1986

The Italian Government reserves the right, in accordance with Article 19, paragraph 1, to refuse to recognize a divorce or legal separation between two spouses who, at the time of the divorce or legal separation were nationals of Italy, and of no other State, and a law other than that indicated by the rules of private international law of Italy was applied, unless the result reached is the same as that which would have been reached by applying the law indicated by those rules.

Luxembourg

13-02-1991

It is possible that a divorce or legal separation may not be recognised in cases where the two spouses, at the time of the divorce or legal separation, were nationals of Luxemburg and of no other State and a law other than that indicated by the rules of private international law obtaining in Luxemburg was applied, unless the result reached is the same as that which would have been reached by applying the law indicated by those rules.

Moldova

10-10-2011

According to the Article 19 paragraph (1) of the Convention, Republic of Moldova reserves its right to refuse to recognise a divorce or legal separation between two spouses who, at the time of the divorce or legal separation, were citizens of the Republic of Moldova, and of no other State, if in this divorce or legal separation was applied a law other than that indicated by the national legislation in the field of the rules of private international law, unless the result reached is the same as that which would have been reached by applying the national law.
According to the Article 21 of the Convention, Republic of Moldova, whose law does not provide for legal separation, reserves the right to refuse to recognise a legal separation when, at the time it was obtained, one of the spouses was a national of a Contracting State whose law did not provide for legal separation.

Poland

25-04-1996

The Republic of Poland reserves the right to refuse to recognize a divorce or a legal separation in the particular well-defined situation, in the first paragraph of Article 19.
In accordance with Article 24, the Republic of Poland reserves the right not to apply this Convention to a divorce or to a legal separation obtained before the date on which, in relation to the Republic of Poland, the Convention comes into force.

Slovakia

15-03-1993

Slovakia maintains the reservations and the declaration made by Czechoslovakia upon ratification on 12 May 1976.

Switzerland

18-05-1976

In conformity with Article 24, paragraph 2, of the Convention, Switzerland reserves the right not to apply the Convention to a divorce or to a legal separation obtained before the date on which it entered into force for Switzerland.

United Kingdom

21-05-1974

(a) In accordance with the provisions of Article 23, the Convention shall extend to the legal systems of the three parts of the United Kingdom, namely England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
(b) In accordance with the provisions of Article 24, the United Kingdom reserves the right not to apply the Convention to a divorce or to a legal separation obtained before the date on which, in relation to the United Kingdom, the Convention comes into force. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom will in practice apply the provisions of the Convention to a divorce or legal separation obtained on or after the date on which the legislation implementing the provisions of the Convention came into force in the part of the United Kingdom in which recognition is sought.

The United Kingdom will also apply the provisions of the Convention to a divorce or legal separation obtained before that date, save that in such a case the application of those provisions will not affect any property rights to which any person became entitled before that date and those provisions will not apply where the question of the validity of the divorce or legal separation has been decided before that date by any competent court in the United Kingdom, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey or the Isle of Man. The legislation implementing the provisions of the Convention came into force in England and Wales and Scotland on the 1st of January 1972, and in Northern Ireland on the 1st of January 1974.

21-05-1974

In accordance with the provisions of Articles 24 and 25, the United Kingdom reserves the right not to apply the Convention, in relation to the aforesaid territories, to a divorce or to a legal separation obtained before the date on which, in relation to those territories, the Convention comes into force. Nevertheless, the provisions of the Convention will in practice be applied in those territories to a divorce or legal separation obtained on or after the date on which the legislation implementing the provisions of the Convention came into force in the territory in which recognition is sought.

The provisions of the Convention will also be applied in that territory to a divorce or legal separation obtained before that date, save that in such a case the application of those provisions will not affect any property rights to which any person became entitled before that date and those provisions will not aply where the question of the validity of the divorce or legal separation has been decided before that date by any competent court in the United Kingdom, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey or the Isle of Man.

The legislation implementing the provisions of the Convention came into force in the Bailiwick of Guernsey on the 27th of June 1972; in the Bailiwick of Jersey on the 13th of November 1973; and in the Isle of Man on the 17th of October 1972.

28-01-1977

In accordance with the provisions of Articles 24 and 25, the United Kingdom reserves the right not to apply the Convention, in relation to the afore-said territories, to a divorce or to a legal separation obtained before the date on which, in relation to those territories, the Convention comes into force.
Nevertheless, the provisions of the Convention will in practice be applied in those territories to a divorce or legal separation obtained on or after the date on which the legislation implementing the provisions of the Convention came into force in the territory in which recognition is sought.

The provisions of the Convention will also be applied in that territory to a divorce or legal separation obtained before that date, save that in such a case the application of those provisions will not affect any property rights to which any person became entitled before that date and those provisions will not apply where the question of the validity of the divorce or legal separation has been decided before that date by a competent court in that territory.

The legislation implementing the provisions of the Convention came into force in Gibraltar on the 1st of November, 1974 and in Hong Kong on the 1st of April, 1972.

20-08-1982

In accordance with the provisions of Articles 24 and 25, the United Kingdom reserves the right not to apply the Convention, in relation to Bermuda, to a divorce or to a legal separation obtained before the date on which the Convention comes into force for Bermuda. Nevertheless the provisions of the Convention will in practice be applied in Bermuda to a divorce or legal separation obtained on or after the date on which the legislation implementing the provisions of the Convention came into force in Bermuda, namely 1st August 1977.

16-06-1997

Your Excellency
I am instructed by Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to refer to the Convention on the Recognition of Divorces and Legal Separations done at the Hague on 1 June 1970 (hereinafter referred to as the Convention) which applies to Hong Kong at present.
I am also instructed to state that, in accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Question of Hong Kong signed on 19 December 1984, the Government of the United Kingdom will restore Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China with effect from 1 July 1997. The Government of the United Kingdom will continue to have international responsibility for Hong Kong until that date. Therefore, from that date the Government of the United Kingdom will cease to be responsible for the international rights and obligations arising from the application of the Convention to Hong Kong.
I should be grateful if the contents of this Note could be placed formally on record and brought to the attention of the other Parties to the Convention.