New Method In Grabbing Free Divorce Records

By Claire Dowell


It is sad to know that many marriages nowadays are leading to divorce. With this the number of divorce records in California is increasing every year. The divorce public records California issues to its residents are open documents which basically mean that the local residents of the state can obtain a copy of the said file anytime they find it necessary.

There are several reasons why residents of California regularly request for a copy of divorce certificate. Genealogy research is one of the primary reasons for requesting a copy of a divorce record. The information that can be found on the document is used to update the family tree. The future generation would encounter problems tracing their origins if the divorce is not updated in a timely manner. Transactions involving the finances of an individual as well as the updating the status would require a copy of a divorce certificate in order to proceed with any requests.

One would know where and when the couple has filed their divorce by looking at the divorce record. The document would not be complete and valid without the names of the people involved which include the divorced individuals and the witnesses to the separation.

Unfortunately, not all information about the divorce is documented on the public file. The public can only find the basic details of the separation. One would not find the reason for the separation and the name of the one who petitioned for the divorce. Further details such as the custody of the children are kept confidential along with the division of the couple's properties and assets. All of this information has been kept confidential to respect the privacy of the couple.

The office of the Vital Records Section of the Department of Health is the one responsible for keeping all of the divorce records of the state. However, the said office cannot issue certified copies of the document. One has to get the certified copy at the county where the couple filed the divorce. Furthermore, records from 1962 to 1984 have to be requested only at the office of the county clerk where the separation was filed. The state office can still help with the retrieval by providing information as to where the request can be done. Unfortunately, the verification process is not free and would cost $13 only. One should know that the document can only be released if the request was made by the divorcees themselves. Others can still get a copy of a divorce certificate of other people by conducting a special request permitting them to access other people's files. To proceed with the retrieval one has to provide the basic details of the document being requested and also provide their contact details.

The public records for divorce in California can be obtained through the Internet. Doing the search online, hastens the retrieval process since the need to go to any office is no longer necessary. By doing just a few clicks on the mouse, the results of the search can be displayed. This cuts the time in the retrieval to more than half of the usual time spent.




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