How to Obtain and Understand State Divorce Records

Reasons for trying to find state divorce records can be numerous. Perhaps you’re conducting genealogical research and want to know more about your parents or other relation, or maybe you need official copies of your own divorce decree to verify final arrangements that you and your ex-spouse agreed to. 

Regardless of where you live or where the divorce was granted, you should be able to access divorce records from one of many state offices. The designated office where these state divorce records are held vary from state to state, but following are some common places you may find them, as well as what information you can hope to learn.

Where to Find State Divorce Records

Each state is charged with determining how and where its vital records are filed, including those recording the facts about births, deaths, marriages and divorces taking place within its borders. Usually, a state Vital Records Office or even the Department of Health will hold these records to be dispersed upon request. Some states may merely hold very general information about a divorce such as the names of the parties involved and the date the divorce was granted. If this is the case in your state, the original copies of the records will usually be found in the county where the divorce occurred.

Who Can Access State Divorce Records

Although divorce records are considered to be public vital records, only certain information is available to any party that is not directly named in a record or a legal representative of one of these parties. This is due to the sensitive and very personal identifying details included in the documents. 

If you need to access state divorce records, you will first need to contact the state office where the divorce was granted, and inquire about how you can obtain the information you need. Sometimes, a court order may be required to access complete records if you can prove this is necessary. Genealogical research can usually be aided with what is called a ‘verification.’ This does not provide a copy of the actual record, but will either confirm or deny a divorce happened between two spouses and the date is was granted.

Information Contained in State Divorce Records

State vital records offices often only hold copies of divorce certificates, which contain the names of the respondent and petitioner involved, as well as the date the divorce occurred. If you are able to acquire copies of the actual divorce decree, this will include names of children that resulted from the marriage as well as specific arrangements agreed upon during the divorce process.

Some states may also include information about whether the divorce was a no-fault or at-fault divorce. All states use no-fault divorces, where neither party is held solely responsible for the dissolution of marriage. At-fault divorces are those where one party’s actions such as lying, committing adultery or another crime caused the dissolution.

If you are planning on remarrying and need to obtain copies of your state divorce records, or simply want to confirm or deny a divorce while conducting research, you must begin learning about your state’s recordkeeping practices to determine how and where you can obtain this information. Your ability to obtain official copies or a simple verification will largely depend upon your relationship to the parties involved in the divorce.

State-Specific Information on How to Find and Access Divorce Records:

Alabama Divorce Records

California Divorce Records

Florida Divorce Records

Georgia Divorce Records

Iowa Divorce Records

Illinois Divorce Records

Indiana Divorce Records

Kansas Divorce Records

Kentucky Divorce Records

Maryland Divorce Records

Michigan Divorce Records

Minnesota Divorce Records

Missouri Divorce Records

Nevada Divorce Records

North Carolina Divorce Records

Ohio Divorce Records

Oklahoma Divorce Records

Oregon Divorce Records

Tennessee Divorce Records

Texas Divorce Records

Virginia Divorce Records