California Free Public Divorce Records

By Ben Kingsley


Records of divorce in California are easy to access as such records are considered public property. For those who want to request for a record of their divorce or obtain another person's divorce decree, it is imperative that one should know if one is eligible to access an authorized or an informational copy.

An authorized copy is one that is certified and can be used as supporting document for spousal or child support and other related things. People who are eligible for an authorized copy are those parties named in the decree, their parents/relatives, domestic partner, an attorney acting in behalf of the registrant, a licensed adoption agency, law enforcement agency and a person who requires such record in the performance of his job. An informational copy contains the same information that an authorized copy has. However, a statement is printed on the copy stating that the report is for informational purpose only and is not a valid document. An authorized copy holds more power than an informational copy.

Once one determines that he or she is eligible for the said copies, it is time to check where the copies can be obtained. The California Department of Public Health or CDPH Vital Records division does not issue certified copies; they can only issue Certificate of Record. All certified copies are available from the County Superior Court where the divorce was granted. Certificates of Records contain information such as the parties involved in the divorce, the county as well as the case number. The Certificate of Record does not contain any information on whether the divorce was finalized or not. The Vital Records division also has divorce records on hand that were filed from 1962 up to June 1984.

To request for Certificate of Records, a pamphlet is available for one to download at the States' Health department website. The pamphlet contains all the information on how to request for the Certificate as well as the form to be submitted. Payments are not refundable and in case the Office finds no record, it will issue a Certificate of No Record. Processing for the request takes about 6 months not including the shipping of the request. Money orders and US drawn checks are accepted.

Those who are interested in getting a certified copy of the divorce can also contact the California Superior Court. Fees vary depending on the county or state from which one will request the information. In Alameda County, divorce records search costs about $15 for searches done for more than 15 minutes. Certified copies cost about $15; other fees may apply depending on the request of the person. The Superior Court of Alameda does not entertain public records search through phone; however, one can search the court records in person without a fee and through mail for additional fees. For more information and easier transaction process, one can also opt to avail of online public search from commercial public search sites.




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