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Request Divorce Records
Have both parties’ names at the event, place and approximate date, and the court/case number if known.
Direct answer
What to use for request divorce records
Request the document you need from the office that holds it: a divorce decree through the relevant clerk, or a divorce certificate through the event state’s vital-record office where available. Confirm whether the recipient needs a certified copy before ordering.
Steps
Request the right vital record
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01
Specify the document
Decide whether the goal is a decree, certificate, license, verification, or search result. That choice determines which office and copy process belong in the workflow.
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02
Locate the event
Use the event place and approximate date to identify the correct office. Those details usually narrow the custodian faster than a broad name search.
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03
Use event-era names
Search the name forms likely to have appeared on the original record.
Route
Where request divorce records is usually requested
| Need | Official source | What it can establish |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing route. | USAGov - Divorce decree or certificate. | A divorce decree is obtained from the court clerk where the divorce occurred. |
| Historical supplement. | CDC/NCHS - Where to Write for Vital Records. | CDC does not issue state vital-record certificates. |
Important
Certificate and court-file routes can differ
Finish with the record owner. If the portal only points to a record, move to the issuing office for the document itself.
Prepare a request the custodian can locate
Have both parties’ names at the event, place and approximate date, and the court/case number if known. Specify the document and number of copies, and ask about ordinary versus certified copies, eligibility or identification requirements, current charges and delivery choices. The CDC guidance also identifies purpose, relationship and contact details as useful request information. Supply sensitive details only through the official office’s stated process.
If you lack the case number or exact date, ask the custodian what search it can perform and what further locator information it needs before paying a copy fee. A request for the whole file can differ from a request for the final decree. Use the recipient’s document requirement and the office’s actual instructions; there is no single nationwide fee or processing time.
Official guidance: CDC: vital-record application guidance; USAGov: divorce decree or certificate.
Related Record Guides
Sources
Authoritative next stops
Official federal public-service source; United States
USAGov - Divorce decree or certificate
A divorce decree is a court order; copies route to the clerk where the divorce occurred, while divorce certificates route to state vital-record offices.
United States
Official federal public-health guidance; United States
CDC - Guidelines for Ordering Vital Records
General state/local vital-record custody and common marriage/divorce request identifiers.
United States
Official federal health navigation source; United States
CDC/NCHS - Where to Write for Vital Records
CDC/NCHS directs users to the state or local office where the vital event occurred and states the federal government does not distribute identifying vital-record certificates or indexes.
United States