Is a divorce done by the judge valid?
Question

                Is a divorce (talaaq) or annulment of marriage (faskh) done by a judge in a civil, non-sharee’ah court valid, in a case where the husband or wife approached the court which rules according to man-made laws to deal with the demand or request to end the marriage contract, because there is no Islamic qaadi?
Praise be to Allah. The marriage contract may be drawn up 
          according to sharee’ah outside this court, then it may be taken to the 
          court for official confirmation. With regard to divorce, it is not conditional 
          for it to be registered in the court. A husband may issue a divorce 
          before two sound witnesses, which may be written on a piece of paper 
          which is signed by the husband and two witnesses. Divorce may be done 
          in this manner, but a man should not divorce his wife whilst she is 
          menstruating or during a period of purity in which he has had intercourse 
          with her, unless they have found out that she is pregnant.