On June 22, 2022, new legislation regarding Citizenship by Descent became effective (art. 36 law 206/2021).

Proceedings for the establishment of Italian citizenship must now be submitted to the District Court where the Court of Appeal of reference for the ancestors’ native town is located.

Court of Venice: the first decision after the new legislation

The Court of Venice has been the quickest to make a decision, in mid-September, after the introduction of the new legislation. 

The Italian Judges ruled in favor of a group of South American citizens with Italian-born ancestors and granted them Italian dual citizenship.

So, despite the many changes within Italian citizenship and the legal system overall, judges and courts in Italy continue to grant citizenship. Likewise, MY LAWYER IN ITALY® keeps helping its clients return to the land of their ancestors.

Do you qualify for Italian dual citizenship? We provide a free assessment to find out if you are eligible. 

Read more articles on our website:

• <span “=””>Citizenship by Descent, new legislation effective June 2022: what you need to know
• <span “=””>Citizenship by descent, new legislation in June 2022: how to find your Court of reference?

If you need any help, feel free to contact us:

Italian dual citizenship has become a dream for many American citizens with Italian-born ancestors. One of the best things about reconnecting with your roots is the chance to share this with your family members.

When applying for Italian dual citizenship, it’s best to turn to an Italian firm that knows how to navigate Italy’s complex legal system. MY LAWYER IN ITALY® will assist you throughout the process, from your first free consultation to filing your case to the court and helping you with A.I.R.E. registration once citizenship is granted.

Additional petitioners: Register before filing to the Court

When someone applying for Italian dual citizenship works with an Italian lawyer or law firm, they must sign a POA – Power of Attorney – to let the counselor act on their behalf. Everyone that signs a POA is considered a petitioner in the citizenship proceedings.

It is never too late to add more additional petitioners before filing the case to the court. MY LAWYER IN ITALY® will help you and all petitioners and family members to claim your Italian dual citizenship. Thanks to your Italian-born ancestors not only will you reconnect with your roots, but also give a beautiful gift to your additional petitioners.

Read more articles on our website:

• Citizenship by Descent, new legislation effective June 2022: what you need to know
• Italian dual Citizenship and Last Name Issues

If you need any help, feel free to contact us:

There are different ways to apply for dual Italian citizenship. The first one is Jure Sanguinis, through which you must have Italian-born ancestors in your blood lineage. The other route to dual citizenship is Jure Matrimonii, by marriage to an Italian. One of the requirements of the latter is that spouses of an Italian citizen get a B1 Italian Language Certificate.

B1 Language Certificate: What is it?

A B1 Language Certificate demonstrates that you have an intermediate level in Italian. This means you are able to communicate and understand topics, to express concepts and ideas to others. It is mandatory for getting dual Italian citizenship Jure Matrimonii.

B1 Language Certificate: Where and how can you get the certificate?

Spouses who need their B1 Language Certificate to apply for dual Italian citizenship Jure Matrimonii can get it in 2 places:

• Italian cultural institutions in the U.S.A. (or other country they live in)
• Italian institutions or university in Italy, such as the University for Foreigners of Siena; the University for Foreigners of Perugia; Università degli Studi Roma Tre; Società Dante Alighieri (with sites in Bologna, Firenze, Milano, Roma, Torino).

Passing the B1 Language exam certifies that the applicant understands the Italian language in terms of:

• writing
• listening
• speaking
• reading

Read more articles on our website:

• Citizenship by Descent, new legislation effective June 2022: what you need to know
• Italian dual Citizenship and Last Name Issues

If you need any help, feel free to contact us:

The opportunity to claim dual citizenship has become very desirable in recent years. MY LAWYER IN ITALY® helps individuals apply for their Italian dual citizenship day in, day out – with or without their parents’ involvement.

We assign a dedicated, English-speaking attorney and team to every client. This is essential in navigating the Italian legal system and answering the many questions that arise along the way.

Questions such as: Can young people apply for Dual Italian Citizenship without their parents?

Young people and citizenship: With or without one’s parents?

MY LAWYER IN ITALY® has led the victories in Court of hundreds of American families who have regained their Italian citizenship. As a result, Italy usually welcomes back not just one person but an entire family unit, consisting of fourteen or fifteen people.

This may create confusion between young people who believe they need their parents to apply for dual Italian citizenship.

Don’t worry, you can do it on your own!

Everyone over 18 years of age that can prove their blood lineage from their Italian-born ancestors can apply for dual Italian citizenship without their parents applying for citizenship as well.

If you wish to come back to the land of your ancestors and want to start the process without your parents, trust us. MY LAWYER IN ITALY® is here to help and support you through the whole process with an Italian English-speaking team by your side!

Read more articles on our website:

• Work and life of American citizens in Italy
• Italian Dual Citizenship Benefits
• Italian dual Citizenship and Last Name Issues

If you need any help, feel free to contact us:

On June 22, 2022 new legislation regarding dual Italian citizenship came into effect. Proceedings must now be submitted to the relevant District Court where the Court of Appeal of reference for the Italian-born ancestor is located.

Does this new legislation affect only Court Cases (1948 cases) or citizenship applications submitted to an Italian Comune too?

Citizenship at Comune

Not all dual Italian citizenship proceedings are impacted by the law (art. 26 law 206/2021).

The new court legislation only affects court cases. Proceedings already submitted will be discussed in Court in front of a judge. This does not affect foreigners applying for citizenship at an Italian Comune.

If you have any doubts or questions about claiming your dual Italian citizenship, MY LAWYER IN ITALY® is here to help you!

Read more articles on our website:

• Citizenship by Descent, new legislation effective June 2022: what you need to know
• Italian dual Citizenship and Last Name Issues

If you need any help, feel free to contact us:

Italian dual citizenship is an achievable dream for thousands of American citizens of Italian descent who wish to come back to the land of their ancestors.

There are many benefits and advantages; however, proof of Italian parentage and ancestry are always required. Each petitioner must demonstrate that his/her ancestors have passed their Italian citizenship and bloodline from generation to generation.

People can acquire Italian dual citizenship in several ways. Some are straightforward but others are complicated and time-consuming. In every instance, you may seek the assistance of expert lawyers.

MY LAWYER IN ITALY^® will not only assist you throughout the whole process but also assign a dedicated Italian English-speaking attorney to handle your case personally and communicate directly with you.

Before you begin the Italian dual citizenship acquisition process, here are the essentials required for eligibility.

• Citizenship by descent: all American citizens with Italian-born ancestors who have never renounced their Italian citizenship
• Citizenship by marriage: whoever married an Italian citizen in a correctly registered ceremony in Italy.

If you are not sure about your eligibility for Italian dual citizenship, MY LAWYER IN ITALY^® will be happy to help you verify it and to assist you in claiming it.

American citizens with ancestors born in Italy can claim their Italian citizenship by descent – jure sanguinis. With the necessary documents, you can begin the journey to Italian citizenship through the Italian courts.

Beware! Many applications have been blocked or rejected by Consulates. One of the most common reasons to dismiss a case is because the applicant’s documentation contains paperwork misspellings or name changes. An example is the immigrant’s name at birth was Giovanni but went by Joseph in the U.S. Other issues that may lead to rejection by the Consulate are:

1. Data inconsistencies – for example, the Italian birth record says the immigrant was born on June 1, 1880, whilst all the other US documents report the immigrant was born on June 3, 1880, or even 1881.
2. Missing certificate – for example, the applicant is not able to procure an ancestor’s birth or marriage certificate.

MY LAWYER IN ITALY® handles many cases in which citizenship by descent applications were delayed or refused. The applicants were discouraged and turned to us for help in obtaining citizenship in Italy.  Simple or very complex issues can be solved by going through the Italian court system.

Let our attorneys and document specialists work for you to make sure that you are awarded the citizenship you deserve.  If there are problems with your paperwork, we can help identify and rectify them.

Thanks to our team of Italian lawyers and experts, we have successfully resolved all kinds of cases in Court all kinds of cases.

If you need any help, feel free to contact us:

If you are interested in Italian dual citizenship, you might have heard the word “apostille”. And you might be thinking, what is an apostille, exactly?

An apostille is a certificate issued by a country on a document to be sent to another country.

Apostilles authenticate seals and signatures on public documents such as birth, marriage, and death certificates so that they can be recognized in foreign countries.

Vital records are essential in a Dual Italian Citizenship acquisition process. They confirm Italian citizenship has been passed through the entire blood lineage, from the first Italian-born ancestors to the citizenship applicants.

Apostille: which authorities issue apostilles?

In the United States, several authorities can issue an Apostille, depending on the origin of the document:

• State authorities, such as the Secretary of State, authenticate state documents such as vital records – birth, death, and marriage certificates.

• The U.S. Department of State Authentications Office authenticates Federal Executive Branch documents.

If you are still not sure what an apostille is or where you can get one, MY LAWYER IN ITALY^® is here to help you.

We provide a dedicated Italian lawyer and document specialists who will handle your case personally and communicate with you throughout the process. We will be happy to help you claim your Dual Italian Citizenship and bring you back to the land of your Italian ancestors.

Read more articles on our website:

• Citizenship by Descent, new legislation effective June 2022: what you need to know
• Italian dual Citizenship and Last Name Issues

If you need any help, feel free to contact us:

The 1948 rule, also known as the ‘female line rule’, enables children born to an Italian mother, prior to 1948, to claim Italian dual citizenship.

Before this rule came into effect, Italian dual citizenship jure sanguinis could only be claimed through one’s male ancestors. The citizenship law enacted in 1912 only allowed women to hold citizenship, and not pass it to their children.

However, in 1983 the Italian Constitutional Court ruled that 1912 law provision unconstitutional because it led to unequal treatment of men and women.

Since then, if you have one or more women in your blood lineage, you have the right to apply for Italian dual citizenship through them.

How does this 1948 rule really work? And where do you need to apply for your citizenship?

How the 1948 rule works

The first thing to do to find out if you have a 1948 case is check your direct blood lineage from your Italian ancestors.

Is there a woman along the line? If so, check when she gave birth to her child/children. The mother’s own birthday and birthplace do not matter.

The only date that matters is the birthday of the child.

Indeed, the application process for Italian dual citizenship changes according to the date the child of the female ancestor was born. Two different scenarios are possible:

1. If the woman in your lineage gave birth to her child after January 1, 1948, you could apply for your Italian dual citizenship at your closest Italian consulate.
2. If the woman gave birth to the child before January 1, 1948, you must submit your Italian dual citizenship application to the Court in Italy.

A mock 1948 case

Let’s see an imaginary example. Let’s examine the following blood lineage: GGGF-GGF-GM-M (1947)

1. First, we must consider the direct blood lineage from our Italian ancestor, in this case “GGGF”: GGGF-GGF-GM-M (1947)
2. Then, we localize the woman in the line, who is the “GM”: GGGF-GGF-GM-M (1947)
3. Notwithstanding both GGF and GM were born in the U.S., the only thing that matters is the birthday of the child of the female ancestor. In this situation, the child “M” was born in 1947, i.e. before January 1^st, 1948: GGGF-GGF-GM-M (1947)

This is a 1948 case which can be submitted to the District Court of the Italian town where the Italian ancestor was born.

If you have any doubts, want to send an inquiry, or need help figuring out if you have a 1948 case, MY LAWYER IN ITALY^® will be happy to help you.

Read more articles on our website:

• Citizenship by Descent, new legislation effective June 2022: what you need to know
• Italian dual Citizenship and Last Name Issues

If you need any help, feel free to contact us:

MY LAWYER IN ITALY® clients often come across changed names in their Italian descendant’s immigration records. Though this was a common occurrence, this can cause anxiety and concern for those applying for dual Italian citizenship.

As experts in the area, we always overcome this issue – no matter the US state or Italian comune in question, the reason for, or the number of discrepancies.

Why were names changed so often, and by whom?

It is fascinating, for both legal and historical reasons, to know more. MY LAWYER IN ITALY® recently partnered with a Nebraska-based law firm to research the practice of personal name changes in the United States in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

As The Legend of Ellis Island explains, ‘people working at inspection stations at Ellis Island – being unfamiliar with different cultures and nationalities – tended to make changes to the names and details of some of the immigrants… Also, many immigrants changed their names themselves to what they imagined were American sounding names’. 

Italian arrivals were one of the demographic groups with the most changed names. The name transformations were subtle, such as the first name “Antonio” being Anglicised to “Tony”, rather than being changed completely. From our clients’ experience, we see that the majority of last name discrepancies from that period arise from misspellings. More recent name changes occur due to marriage or divorce.

What is surprising today, in an age with advanced identity and immigration methods and controls, is the ease with which an immigrant’s name could be changed – by them or by someone else. As long as the name change was ‘completed in good faith’ (i.e. not for fraudulent or criminal purposes), it will not deprive that individual – and vitally, their descendants – of their rights.

Will name changes or discrepancies affect my dual Italian citizenship case?

This unique study is now another ace in the hole. MY LAWYER IN ITALY® will use it to explain to Italian judges how and why name changes happened and were tolerated in the past, and in some cases, still happen today. We are proud to collaborate with other law firms and invest in US legal research: to bring Italy and the US closer together, and make the citizenship application process run smoothly and successfully for our clients.  

Read more articles on our website:

• Italian Dual Citizenship: do I have to speak Italian to apply?
• The Minor Case: which Italian Dual Citizenship petitions are getting rejected?
• Italian American Dual Citizenship: most common problems and how to overcome them

If you need any help, feel free to contact us:

Italy celebrates one of its most important holidays on April 25^th: Liberation Day. This marks the day on which the Allied Armies freed the country from the Nazis. Those dark times and the many young lives lost during World War II are remembered on this important national holiday.

Who were those brave soldiers that died to grant a future of freedom to our country? We may not know their names, but we remember them in our hearts.

Among the many American soldiers who sailed from overseas, the largest ethnic group was young Italian American men. Despite their numbers, they have not received much attention from traditional historians. Those soldiers, sailors, and airmen were not only American citizens with Italian heritage, but also included Italian-born naturalized Americans who served in the U.S. armed forces.

They could often speak Italian, had grown up in an Italian American environment and still had families and roots overseas. Thus, when asked to fight in Italy, they were ready to join the war.

Those men fought not only for the peace and freedom of humankind, but also for a country they saw as their own.

May their memories be blessed.

MY LAWYER IN ITALY® works tirelessly to celebrate Italian heritage and culture around the world, and to help Italian American sons and daughters come back to the land of their ancestors.

Read more articles on our website:

• Italian American Dual Citizenship: most common problems and how to overcome them
• The Minor Case: which Italian Dual Citizenship petitions are getting rejected?

If you need any help, feel free to contact us:

In recent years, Italian dual citizenship has become a goal for many foreigners. Besides those who want to reconnect with their own roots and Italian ancestors, many others wish to get dual citizenship for other reasons:

1. Ability to travel, work and live in other EU countries
2. Access to the Italian health and education system
3. A European passport
4. Property purchase benefits
5. Right to vote in Italian elections
6. Automatic Italian citizenship to children under 18 years old and future generations.

However, when applying for Italian dual citizenship, many people have lots of questions.

Some of the most important are:

Do I have to speak Italian to apply for Dual Citizenship?

For citizenship by descent: NO. Although it is not mandatory for those applying for Italian citizenship by descent to speak Italian, it is highly recommended to learn the language. It is an integral part of Italian culture and everyday life.

For citizenship by marriage: YES. People who want to apply for Italian citizenship through their spouses must be able to speak Italian at an intermediate level.   

Since December 2018, due to changes in Italian law, anyone applying for Italian citizenship through marriage must prove they speak Italian at B1 level or higher. The language certificate has to be issued by an educational institution officially approved by the Italian Education Ministry or Foreign Ministry.

Regardless of the motivation to apply for dual citizenship, MY LAWYER IN ITALY® is always ready to help its clients on their journey toward the ultimate goal: Italian dual citizenship. 

Read more articles on our website:

• Citizenship by Descent, new legislation effective June 2022: what you need to know
• Italian dual Citizenship and Last Name Issues

If you need any help, feel free to contact us:

Ellis Island was an unforgettable destination in world history, though it may be less famous now outside of New York City and the United States. It is estimated that over twelve million people entered the U.S. through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954.

Ellis Island will always be more than a museum alone: it is a symbol of the bright American dream. As well as the stories of those who crossed the ocean to pursue a better life, there is an ongoing genealogy an dual citizenship myth. 

According to legend, people working at the Ellis Island immigration inspection stations were unfamiliar with different cultures and nationalities. They tended to make changes to the names and details of some immigrants.

Many immigrants changed their names themselves to what they imagined were American-sounding names. On arrival at Ellis Island this further confused the name issue when their “new” name did not match the name on the ship manifest. The Ellis Island employee often just assigned a new name rather than try to figure out a difficult one.  The immigrant therefore arrived with a new American name.

Many immigrants also arrived in the US with a new birthdate because the inspectors liked to assign Christmas Day (December 25) as their American birthdate.

We will never know exactly how much of this confusion was created by the inspectors and how much by the immigrants themselves. What we do know is that this helps to confuse everyone who looks to Ellis Island records for answers about their own family history!

MY LAWYER IN ITALY®‘s team of English-speaking attorneys and document specialists will help you find a way through if you do find the Ellis Island legend gets in your way.

Read more articles on our website:

• Italian American Dual Citizenship: most common problems and how to overcome them
• The Minor Case: which Italian Dual Citizenship petitions are getting rejected?

If you need any help, feel free to contact us:

One way of acquiring Italian American dual citizenship is by descent, meaning petitioners will need to identify their most recent ancestor born in Italy and work backwards from there. After searching for and collecting all the necessary documents, the pathway to citizenship goes through the local Italian Consulate in the United States.

Many cases for citizenship present major issues, and some applicants believe they have no chance to proceed with their petition of an Italian American Dual Citizenship.

But they can reclaim their citizenship…in Court.

No appointment dates at the local Consulate

One of the most common situations is when the local Consulate has no available dates to book a citizenship appointment. However, following a precedent in the Italian Consulate of San Francisco, Italian descendants were granted the possibility to take the case directly to Court in Italy.

According to the Italian citizenship by descent process, cases can only be brought before the Court if the Consulate has rejected the application or not taken a decision on the application within two years. In such cases, the applicant shows the judge the application papers or the booking receipt. But what if there is no booking receipt because the local Consulate never even had available dates?

In the case in question, handled by MY LAWYER IN ITALY®, the Court ruled in favor of our client, recognizing that the Italian San Francisco Consulate had failed to provide an appointment within the next two years.  This entitled the Italian descendant to bring her citizenship case directly before the Court of Rome (at the time).

U.S. Local Consulate rejection

It is also possible to bring a citizenship case before the Court in Italy when the local Consulate rejects the application. Italian descendants who are applying for citizenship should always visit their local Italian Consulate, where all their documents and applications are reviewed. At the end of this process, they may receive positive feedback and can therefore continue with their application.

However, there are several reasons for refusal:

1. Paperwork misspelling – for example, the immigrant’s name at birth was Calogero but in the U.S. went by Samuel.
2. Data inconsistencies – for example, the Italian birth record says the immigrant was born on June 1, 1880, while all the other US documents report the immigrant was born on June 3, 1880, or even 1881.
3. Missing certificate – for example, the applicant is not able to procure a birth or a marriage certificate of an ancestor.

Many precedents have shown that, in these situations, the Consulate rejects the case, returning the documentation to the applicant. The request of the petitioner then remains blocked, for as long as three or five years, while they try to amend some of the documents and certificates.

Claiming Citizenship before the Courts in Italy

What most people do not know is that in all these situations there is a way to proceed, despite the lack of available dates or rejection at the Consulate.

And that is claiming Citizenship before the Courts in Italy.

MY LAWYER IN ITALY® has handled many cases in which citizenship by descent applications were delayed or refused. The applicants were discouraged and turned to us in the hope of obtaining citizenship. Our team has always been successful in resolving these kinds of cases in Court, with our clients regaining their Italian citizenship to their delight.

If you need any help, feel free to contact us: