Frequently asked questions about notarial divorce
Everything you need to know about express mutual-agreement divorce before a notary in Madrid: processing in under 24 business hours, pricing, requirements, documentation, process and timelines.
What is an express divorce before a notary?
It is a legal procedure that allows couples in mutual agreement to divorce before a notary, without going to court. It is available for marriages without minor or dependent children.
What service does Divorcios.express provide?
Divorcios.express fully manages express divorce before a notary in Madrid: drafting the regulatory agreement, preparing the public deed, coordinating with the notary, submission to the Civil Registry, and delivery of final documentation.
In which locations does Divorcios.express operate?
Divorcios.express provides its express notarial divorce service in Madrid.
Can we divorce before a notary if we have minor children?
No. If the marriage has minor children or adult children with disabilities in their care, the notarial route is not available. In that case, the judicial route must be used.
Do both spouses need to agree?
Yes. Notarial divorce requires mutual agreement. Both spouses must agree to the divorce and to the terms set out in the regulatory agreement.
How long must we have been married to divorce?
At least three months must have passed since the marriage took place.
Does one spouse need to be registered in Madrid?
Yes. To process the divorce before a notary in Madrid, at least one of the spouses must prove their residence in the city of Madrid through a registration certificate (certificado de empadronamiento).
How long does Divorcios.express take to process the case?
Divorcios.express prepares and processes the case within 24–48 business hours, once all data and documentation have been correctly received. This timeframe does not include the notary signing or Civil Registry times.
How long does the entire divorce process take?
The process has three phases with differentiated timeframes:
- Divorcios.express processing: 24–48 business hours (with complete data and documentation).
- Notary signing: depends on the notary's availability.
- Civil Registry registration: depends on the Civil Registry.
The 24–48 hour timeframe refers to the processing by Divorcios.express and does not include notary or Civil Registry times.
Do we both have to go to the notary?
Yes. Both spouses must attend the notary's office in person to sign the public deed of divorce.
What happens after signing?
After signing, Divorcios.express manages the submission of the deed to the Civil Registry for registration. Once registered, the final documentation is delivered and the case is closed.
How much does the Divorcios.express service cost?
Divorcios.express fees are €360 VAT included. This price covers the full case management. Notary fees are not included: they cost approximately €200, paid directly at the notary on the signing day. Civil Registry registration is free of charge. Fees can be split into 2, 3, or 6 monthly payments.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. Divorcios.express fees (€360 VAT included) can be split into:
- 2 months: €180/month
- 3 months: €120/month
- 6 months: €60/month
In all cases, the total fee amount is €360 VAT included.
Does the price include notary fees?
No. The Divorcios.express service price does not include notary fees (approximately €200, paid directly at the notary) or Civil Registry costs (free of charge).
What documentation do I need to get started?
The standard initial documentation is:
- ID card or NIE of spouse 1.
- ID card or NIE of spouse 2.
- Registration certificate from either spouse (city of Madrid).
- Family book (libro de familia).
Do I need a birth or marriage certificate?
They are not automatically requested as part of the initial documentation. They would only be requested if, after the case review, they prove necessary for the specific case.
How do I submit the documentation?
Through the Divorcios.express client portal. You upload documents securely and the team reviews them, letting you know if everything is correct or if anything is missing.
Can I divorce before a notary in Madrid?
Yes, provided you meet the requirements: mutual agreement, no minor or dependent children, at least three months of marriage, and at least one spouse registered in the city of Madrid.
What requirements must I meet to divorce before a notary?
The requirements are:
- Mutual agreement between the spouses.
- No minor children or children with disabilities in care.
- At least three months of marriage.
- At least one spouse registered in the city of Madrid.
- A regulatory agreement on the effects of the divorce.
Can both spouses participate in the divorce process?
Yes. In fact, notarial divorce requires mutual agreement, so both spouses participate in the process. Both must attend the notary in person for the signing of the deed.
Do I need a marriage certificate?
It is not automatically requested as part of the standard initial documentation. It would only be requested if, after the case review, it proves necessary for the specific case.
Do I need a criminal record certificate?
No. A criminal record certificate is not part of the documentation required for a notarial divorce.
Do I need to provide property deeds or bank documentation?
They are not automatically requested. The standard initial documentation includes ID/NIE of both spouses, registration certificate, and family book. Additional documentation would only be requested if, after the case review, it proves necessary for the specific case.
Do I need to provide documentation about assets?
It is not part of the standard initial documentation. If it is exceptionally needed for your case, you will be informed after the case review by Divorcios.express.
Can I start the process online?
Yes. The entire process of hiring, payment, data entry, and document submission is done online through the Divorcios.express website and client portal. Only the notary signing is in person.
How do I enter my data?
Through the Divorcios.express client portal. Once you have hired the service and confirmed payment, you access the portal where you can complete the form with both spouses' details, marriage information, housing situation, and agreements reached.
Can I save the form and continue later?
Yes. The client portal form saves automatically, so you can complete it over multiple sessions without losing the information already entered.
What happens after I submit the data?
Once you have completed all data and uploaded the documentation, the Divorcios.express team reviews everything. If all is correct, the case is prepared within 24–48 business hours. If anything is missing or there is an issue, you will be informed so it can be resolved.
Who reviews the documentation?
The professional Divorcios.express team reviews all data and documentation submitted, verifying that everything is correct and sufficient for processing the case.
What happens if a document is missing?
If after the review a missing document is detected, the Divorcios.express team will inform you, specifying which document is needed. You can upload it through the client portal.
What happens if a document is incorrect?
If a document is not valid or has an issue (expired, illegible, etc.), you will be notified through the client portal with the reason for rejection so you can replace it.
Can I replace a rejected document?
Yes. If a document is rejected, you can upload a new one through the client portal. The Divorcios.express team will review it again.
Is the case really processed in 24–48 hours?
Yes. Divorcios.express prepares and processes the case within 24–48 business hours, provided the client has correctly supplied all required data and documentation and there are no issues requiring correction. This timeframe refers exclusively to the processing by Divorcios.express.
Does the 24–48 hours include the notary signing?
No. The 24–48 hour timeframe refers to the case preparation and processing by Divorcios.express. The notary signing depends on the notary's availability and coordination, and is not included in that timeframe.
Does the 24–48 hours include Civil Registry registration?
No. The 24–48 hour timeframe refers exclusively to the processing by Divorcios.express. Civil Registry registration depends on the relevant registry's timeframes and is not part of that period.
How long does the notary signing take to arrange?
The signing date depends on the notary's availability and coordination with both spouses. It is not possible to set a standard timeframe, as it varies according to the notary's schedule.
How long does Civil Registry registration take?
The registration time depends on the relevant Civil Registry and its workload. This timeframe does not depend on Divorcios.express.
What is the regulatory agreement?
The regulatory agreement (convenio regulador) is the document in which both spouses set out the agreements on the effects of their divorce: housing, assets, pensions, and any other terms. It is mandatory in every mutual-agreement divorce and is incorporated into the public deed of divorce.
Who prepares the regulatory agreement?
Divorcios.express prepares the draft regulatory agreement based on the data provided by the spouses through the client portal. The draft undergoes professional review before being sent to the notary.
Is a divorce deed prepared?
Yes. Divorcios.express prepares the necessary documentation for the public deed of divorce, which is signed before the notary. The deed incorporates the regulatory agreement and formalises the dissolution of the marriage.
Who handles submission to the Civil Registry?
Divorcios.express manages the submission of the deed to the relevant Civil Registry as part of its service. The registration time depends on the Civil Registry.
When is my case considered finalised?
Your case is considered finalised once the divorce has been registered at the Civil Registry and the final documentation has been delivered.
Can I check the status of my divorce online?
Yes. Through the Divorcios.express client portal you can check the current status of your case at any time, view uploaded documents, read team messages, and access generated documentation.
What documentation can I find in my private area?
In your client portal you can find: the documents you have uploaded, the review status of each document, messages from the Divorcios.express team, and, once generated, the case documentation.
What happens if we already live separately?
If the spouses already live at different addresses, this is simply noted in the form. Each spouse continues at their current address.
What happens if we still live together?
If you still live together, you need to agree on how housing will be managed after the divorce: who will stay, whether both will remain temporarily, etc. This agreement is recorded in the regulatory agreement.
What happens with the family home?
The regulatory agreement must include the arrangement for the family home: exclusive use for one spouse, both continuing, sale, or another solution. Divorcios.express collects this information in the form and reflects it in the agreement.
Can either spouse provide the registration certificate?
Yes. It is sufficient for either of the two spouses to provide a registration certificate proving residence in the city of Madrid.
What happens if neither spouse is registered in Madrid?
If neither spouse is registered in the city of Madrid, it is not possible to process the divorce before a notary in Madrid through Divorcios.express. At least one spouse must prove their residence in the city of Madrid.
What happens if my case does not meet the service requirements?
If your case does not meet the requirements for a notarial divorce (for example, because there are minor children), the notarial route is not available. In that case, you would need to explore the judicial route. Divorcios.express specialises exclusively in notarial divorce in Madrid.
Can Divorcios.express request additional documentation?
Yes. Although the standard initial documentation is straightforward (ID/NIE, registration certificate, and family book), after the case review Divorcios.express may request additional documentation if the circumstances require it. If so, you will be informed of what is needed and why.
How can I contact Divorcios.express?
You can contact Divorcios.express through the website, the client portal (if you have already hired the service), or through the contact channels indicated on the website.
What does the price include?
Divorcios.express fees (€360 VAT included) include: drafting the regulatory agreement, preparing the public deed, full notary management, submission to the Civil Registry, delivery of final documentation, and access to the client portal with case tracking. Notary fees are not included (approx. €200, paid directly at the notary). Civil Registry is free of charge.
Does the price include VAT?
Yes. The €360 is the final price with VAT included. No additional VAT is added to the stated price. Notary fees (approx. €200) are paid separately, directly at the notary on the signing day.
Are instalment payments available?
Yes. Divorcios.express offers instalment payments in up to 12 instalments.
What happens after making the payment?
Once payment is confirmed, your case is automatically created and you gain access to your client portal, where you can enter your data, upload documentation, and track the status of your divorce at any time.