Friday, January 31, 2014

California Free Divorce Records

By Ben Kingsley


It is easy for one to obtain a record of their divorce in California. Like other US states, the divorce record is considered as public record and as such the information is available for anybody. For those interested in obtaining a copy of the divorce decree, it is important to know whether they are eligible for an authorized copy or limited to informational copies of the divorce decree.


Authorized copies and informational ones are the same as they contain the same details including the registrants, the date the divorce was filed and the county where the divorce was granted. The difference is that informational copies cannot be used as valid documents and are issued for information purposes only. Authorized copies on the other hand are legal documents and can serve as supporting documents especially if one is requesting for child support or spousal support. Authorized copies are available only for the spouse or domestic partners, an adoption agency, parents of the divorced couples and their kids. A statement stating that the informational copy is not a valid document is printed below the divorce report.

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 a Certificate of Record, download the pamphlet available from the CDPH site. Follow the instruction guide and complete the requirements needed. Fees vary and are non-refundable. The Office will issue a certificate of No Public Records if there are no records found. Payments for the copy should be included with the request. Payments can be made via money order or checks that are drawn from a US bank. Money orders issued by the USPS are also accepted. Processing time can exceed six months depending on the request volume.

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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