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.
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.
For those who want to obtain a copy only, they can visit the California Department of Public Health or CDPH Vital Records section. The Vital records office does not issue marriage and divorce certified copies; they can however issue a Certificate of Record. The Certificate of Record contains a summary of the case, the parties involved and the county that granted the divorce. Certificates of Records do not include the decision with regards to the case. For those who need a certified copy, they can visit the California Superior Court or the Superior Court of the County where the divorce was granted. Available records from the CDPH range from 1962 to 1984; the rest of the records are available from the Superior court.
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.
For those who need a certified copy of the divorce decree, they can go to the California Superior court or the County's superior court to request for the record. It is important to check the fee schedule as each county has different fees. Divorce records search in Alameda County for example is available from the Superior Court of Alameda. Each record search costs about $15 for searches conducted longer than 15 minutes. Divorce records cost about $15 and some administrative or handling charges may apply. For those who are on a budget, they can visit the records division and do the search themselves free. The Court does not accept any phone request though they accept walk in and mail request. For those who want to get their certified copies without having to wait, they can also avail of public search sites that provide the information free or for a fee. One can easily get hold of the information they want without having to go to the county superior court to search for the records.
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.
For those who want to obtain a copy only, they can visit the California Department of Public Health or CDPH Vital Records section. The Vital records office does not issue marriage and divorce certified copies; they can however issue a Certificate of Record. The Certificate of Record contains a summary of the case, the parties involved and the county that granted the divorce. Certificates of Records do not include the decision with regards to the case. For those who need a certified copy, they can visit the California Superior Court or the Superior Court of the County where the divorce was granted. Available records from the CDPH range from 1962 to 1984; the rest of the records are available from the Superior court.
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.
For those who need a certified copy of the divorce decree, they can go to the California Superior court or the County's superior court to request for the record. It is important to check the fee schedule as each county has different fees. Divorce records search in Alameda County for example is available from the Superior Court of Alameda. Each record search costs about $15 for searches conducted longer than 15 minutes. Divorce records cost about $15 and some administrative or handling charges may apply. For those who are on a budget, they can visit the records division and do the search themselves free. The Court does not accept any phone request though they accept walk in and mail request. For those who want to get their certified copies without having to wait, they can also avail of public search sites that provide the information free or for a fee. One can easily get hold of the information they want without having to go to the county superior court to search for the records.
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