How to Find Divorce Records
When an individual files for divorce or any legal proceeding, the judicial officer responsible for the case must provide the court with copies of the original documents that have been filed in the case. The marriage certificate and divorce petition will likely be required to support your request.
As a result, divorce records are public records and can be found online. However, one must be aware that they are being uploaded by an individual that obtained the information for free and uploaded it online.
Those looking to access divorce records may also wish to obtain copies of certificates of adoption. If you were the legal parent and are seeking copies of your former child's birth certificate or legal documents that prove you were the legal parent, you will likely be required to pay a fee. This fee is not typically for admission into the national registries where your former child has been placed; rather, it is intended to cover costs associated with establishing a link between the adoption and your former child.
If you would like to obtain an official copy of your divorce, you will need to visit a government office. The official records are mandated to be recorded on the official record books. Divorce was officially recorded in this manner at the beginning of the 20th century in most cases.
To obtain divorce records, first consult your local county clerk or a national record repository. You may find that local clerks will only have to submit a certified copy of the certificate of divorce. The procedure used by these government agencies varies, but generally the government offices and clerks will require you to present a government-issued photo identification before allowing you to view their files.
You may then visit the government office to obtain your records. By law, you must pay a fee, depending on the specific record being requested, to have a copy made of your legal divorce papers.
If you are interested in obtaining divorce records for someone else, then you will most likely need to pay a fee. Depending on your circumstance, you may be able to obtain the desired information through your own government offices, but most records that are available online are considered public domain.
The fees incurred for a divorce vary depending on the record repositories you choose. Some government offices charge less than others, but the fee varies. If you are searching through your local county office, check with the county clerk for their fee schedule and wait until you are back in the county to pay the fee.
There are other record repositories, such as the US Department of Health and Human Services. These repositories do charge a fee for their services. The fee includes copying services, not just the divorce record itself.
Many of the public record repositories do charge a small fee, so you should compare and contrast the different fees for different repositories before making your final decision. Sometimes the fees are so low, you can even search for the divorce record and receive some results.
Divorce records are easily accessible online. You should always research the websites before obtaining the records. Most of the records that are available online will contain the same basic information, such as the filing date, the names of the spouses, and the order of the filing.
Although divorce records are public and state public record, you must still make certain you obtain the records from the proper government office. With many records now available online, you should be able to search for your divorce records and obtain them from your local government office.