Foreign Judgments in Peru

Foreign judgments do not automatically produce legal effects in Peru. Before a foreign divorce judgment, custody order, commercial judgment, or arbitral award can modify civil status records, produce registry effects, or serve as the basis for enforcement in Peru, it may need to pass through a judicial recognition process known as exequatur. Written by Dr. Alberto Miranda, a Peruvian attorney based in Lima, this book is designed for foreign lawyers, international law firms, courts, instructing counsel, and cross-border practitioners who need to understand how foreign judgments are recognized and implemented under Peruvian law. The book explains the Peruvian recognition framework, including the role of the Civil Code, the Code of Civil Procedure, the competent Civil Chamber of the Superior Court, the public order exception, apostille and legalization requirements, certified Spanish translations, powers of attorney, notifications, defenses, and post-recognition implementation before Peruvian institutions. It covers the recognition of foreign divorce judgments, custody and family orders, commercial judgments, support and maintenance orders, and foreign arbitration awards. It also explains how recognized judgments may produce effects before RENIEC, SUNARP, Peruvian courts, registries, and enforcement proceedings. Readers will learn how to prepare a court-ready file, identify the legal effect sought in Peru, anticipate procedural objections, understand public order risks, and avoid common mistakes that delay or weaken recognition proceedings. This book includes practical examples, filing checklists, comparative references, frequently asked questions, and illustrative scenarios designed to help foreign counsel and international practitioners understand how foreign judgments operate in real cross-border legal practice involving Peru. The content is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, expert evidence, a formal legal opinion, or a substitute for case-specific guidance from a qualified Peruvian lawyer.