In 2019 my, at the time, wife and I filed for divorce here in Switzerland. We originally married in the US and then formalised the marriage here. After 7 years of marriage, we filed for divorce here, and on the Swiss side everything is taken care of. I would like to now formalise the divorce on the US side (a bit late on my end - I know). The marriage license in the US is from Hawaii, where we originally married. I am unsure if I need to also file for divorce in the states, or if I just need to provide a notarised translation of our divorce agreement from here in Switzerland. Either way I don't know who to contact or what organisation to file these documents to. Does anyone have any input or experience? I don't have contact with my ex-wife and would like to keep it that way if at all possible.
The US has no centralized record keeping for marriage or divorce records. It’s all state by state and pretty much they don’t care unless you have to prove you are divorced for some US purpose. You might need proof of divorce for a case by case situation. For example, remarriage in the US or if you want to ensure your ex-wife has no rights to any pension or financial stuff, again from the US.
Thanks for the information. I'm torn between A) being okay with knowing they don't have a centralised system and B) with wanting to have that part of my life "closed".
As I do intend to remarry, I would really like to settle it officially. Does anyone know of a place I can contact to get more information on how to do this from here?
There really isn't a way to file this information systematically.
If you were to get married again the US, you would show them your divorce decree beforehand. Are you filing your US taxes under "single" status now? If so, you have let the IRS know. When you file for SS, they will want to know about your marital status and you'll let them know.
If you have any bank or investment accounts in the US, did you change your beneficiary statement in case your ex had been one of your beneficiaries?