Divorce

Marriage can be dissolved:

by mutual agreement on the basis of a joint application:

at local municipality - the vital statistics officer of the local municipality divorces the marriage, but to make agreements related to the children and common property cannot be divided at the vital statistics officer;

at a notary - at a notary, in addition to a divorce, it is possible to formalize written agreements on the future living arrangements of joint children, communication and maintenance and to divide the common property created during the marriage. If the marriage has been divorced at the vital statistic officer of the local government, it is possible to contact a notary separately later to formalize agreements concerning children and property;

in case of dispute:

in court - on the basis of an action filed by one spouse, if the spouses do not agree on the divorce or on issues related to it.
 

A marriage concluded in any country can be dissolved in Estonia. The data of the marriage to be dissolved must be entered in the population register.

In order for a marriage to be dissolved at the local municipality vital statistic officer, both spouses must live in Estonia according to the population register. At the notary and courts under certain conditions it is possible to divorce in court even if one or both of the spouses does not live in Estonia. You should ask a notary or the court for more detailed information.

The application can be submitted to the local government in the e-population register or at the civil status officer on site. A joint application for divorce at a notary can be submitted at a notary on site or by remote verification.

If the spouses wish to submit a petition for divorce locally, but cannot go to the registry office or a notary together for a valid reason, one of the spouses may submit a separate notarized petition.

Regardless of the way of submitting the application, 1-3 months after submitting the application, you must go together at an agreed time to the civil status officer or notary on the spot to dissolve the marriage. Only if one of the spouses cannot go to the vital statistics officer or notary for a valid reason for the divorce, he or she may exceptionally submit a notarized or certified consent of the Estonian consular officer for the divorce without his or her presence.

A spouse who has changed their name when they get married can keep their married name or restore their previously used last name upon divorce. The surname to be restored can be:

-    the last surname used before the divorce marriage or
-    the last surname used before the first marriage.

If the application for divorce is submitted to the local government, a state fee of 90 euros must be paid. If the marriage is dissolved by a notary, a notary fee is paid for it.

In the case of divorce in local municipality or the notary, both divorced spouses are given a divorce certificate. The certificate is in Estonian and free of charge. When applying for divorce, both spouses can choose whether they want the certificate on paper or electronically.
 

Related

Joint written petition for divorce (PDF) Annex to the regulation by the Minister of Regional Affairs

Annex to the regulation by the Minister of Regional Affairs

Joint written petition for divorce (PDF) Annex 6.1 to the regulation by the Minister of Regional Affairs

Annex 6.1 to the regulation by the Minister of Regional Affairs

Separate application for a divorce (PDF) Annex to the regulation by the Minister of Regional Affairs

Annex to the regulation by the Minister of Regional Affairs