U.S.-Registered Marriage Dissolved in Kazakhstan: The Impossible Made Possible

The legal team of ERNST & PARTNERS successfully represented a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan in divorce proceedings against a citizen of Ukraine.

The marriage had been registered in one of the U.S. states. The spouses had no minor children and no property disputes.
Prior to contacting our firm, the client had consulted several lawyers who advised that divorce proceedings must be initiated in the United States. Due to the complexity, higher costs, and procedural burdens of litigation in a foreign jurisdiction, the client sought to dissolve the marriage through Kazakh courts.

The matter was further complicated by previous refusals to accept the claim in Kazakhstan.

Owing to our firm’s extensive experience in cross-border family law matters — including divorces of foreign nationals and marriages registered outside Kazakhstan — we developed a sound procedural strategy that allowed the case to be properly heard.

At the end of January 2026, the Kazakh court issued a decision dissolving the marriage.

Following the court’s decision, we completed the apostille procedure to ensure international recognition of the judgment. The documents were subsequently delivered to the client in the United States.

Our client is now preparing to enter into a new marriage, marking a positive new chapter in her life.

This case once again demonstrates that complex cross-border family matters can be effectively resolved within Kazakhstan’s jurisdiction when approached with the correct legal strategy.