The court will give you a proof of written judgement that lets you know that your divorce is final. You can request a copy of this judgement from the court in your jurisdiction – contact the courthouse or visit its website to see what its specific procedures are.
To obtain a Divorce Record (or Marriage Record) in the State of California, the first step is to visit the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) or the Superior Court in the Superior Court of the county where the divorce was filed.
Divorce records, like marriage records, are public. You can search for divorce records from the comfort of your own home, or you can visit the state's Department of Health and Vital Records. Although records are sometimes free, you might need to pay to use certain private or state services.
You can request a certified copy of a judgment (divorce decree) either in-person or by mail. The fee for a certified copy of a judgment (divorce decree) by a non-public agency is $15.00 (GC 70674). In person record search requests can be made at any of our court locations.
Your best bet is to search the state's website or to contact the local court clerk. If you search your state's website, you will need to know which court handles divorce in your state or the state you are searching in.
If you can visit the court that granted the divorce, you may be able to view the entire divorce record for free, although you must pay for photocopies or certified copies of the divorce certificate. If you cannot visit the courthouse, you may be able to submit a records request online.
Birth, death, marriage and divorce records are typically managed and made available at the local county clerk's office where the event took place. States will also often have a department of health that can provide access to older vital records.
There are three ways to look at court records:
- Go to the courthouse and ask to look at paper records.
- Go to the courthouse and look at electronic court records.
- If your court offers it, look at electronic records over the internet. This is called “remote access.”
Generally, court proceedings are public matters. When a court files divorce records under seal, confidential or sensitive information within those records remains private and doesn't become a matter of public record. Courts can order entire records or portions of them to be filed under seal.
10 Steps to Getting Divorced in California
- Protect Yourself, Your Children, and Your Property.
- Make Sure You Meet Residency Requirements.
- Gather Information.
- Decide if You Need Temporary Alimony or Child Support.
- Determine Which Procedure to Use.
- Prepare the Necessary Forms.
- File Your Forms.
- Notify Your Spouse.
Go to the Clerk's Office in any L.A. County Superior Court that handles criminal cases. See list of all L.A. Superior Court locations below or visit courthouse. 2. Fill out the “Records Request” form and select “Conviction Docs” on the form to obtain your criminal record information.
Generally, the divorce decree will include information about any amount of money to be paid beyond the date that the divorce is finalized. That means it covers the division of property, disposal of debts, spousal support, and any obligations to children from the marriage.
To start a divorce proceeding, you'll need to complete a petition, Form FL-100, and a summons, Form FL-110. 2. File the necessary forms with the clerk of court. If you live in Los Angeles County, you can use the Los Angeles Superior Court's website to find out where you need to file your divorce papers.
Most New Mexico Vital Records are not open to the public. Vital records, such as birth, death, marriage, divorce records/certificates are restricted to the general public within a time period.
New Mexico is a community property state. This means that any property that belongs to the marriage must be split equally between the spouses when they divorce. Likewise, all debts incurred during the marriage (with the exception of gambling debts) belong to both spouses equally.
Another way to request for and obtain New Mexico Death Records is online through public databases. To find out more, contact the New Mexico Division of Vital Records by calling them at 505-827-0121.
