Free Guide to Requesting Divorce Records From Your County

Why You Might Need Divorce Records and Where They Live

Divorce records aren't the kind of documents you think about every day, but they show up when you need them most. You might be applying for a job that requires a background check, getting remarried and need proof your previous marriage ended, or settling questions about child support and custody arrangements. Maybe you're a genealogy researcher tracing your family tree, or you're working on correcting information in your own records.

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Here's what matters to understand: divorce records are public documents in every U.S. state and county. This means they're stored in an official place where you or anyone else can look them up. That official place is almost always your county clerk's office—the same place that handles marriage licenses, property deeds, and court documents. Some counties call this office by different names: the Clerk of Court, Register of Deeds, Court Clerk's Office, or Registrar. The name varies by region, but the function stays the same.

A few states seal certain divorce records under specific circumstances—usually to protect privacy in cases involving abuse or minor children—but the vast majority of divorce records remain accessible to the public. According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, roughly 2.4 divorces occurred per 1,000 people in the U.S. as of recent counts, meaning millions of people have records on file in county offices across the country.

The records themselves contain core information: the names of both people involved, the date the divorce was filed, the date it was finalized, and often the grounds for divorce (the stated reason). Some records include details about child custody arrangements, spousal support, or property division, though the depth of information varies by county and whether the divorce was contested.

Your takeaway: Before you start looking, know that divorce records live in your county clerk's office, they're public in most circumstances, and they contain specific legal information about when and how a marriage ended.

Finding Your County Clerk's Office and Contact Information

The first real step in getting divorce records is locating the actual office that holds them. This sounds obvious, but many people waste time searching the wrong county or calling the wrong department. The correct office depends on where the divorce was finalized, not where either person currently lives.

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To find your county clerk, start with your state's official website. Every state maintains a directory of county offices. For example, if you're looking for records in California, you'd go to the California state government site and find the county clerk listings. The same applies whether you're searching in Texas (where over 77,000 divorces were filed in a recent year according to Texas Vital Statistics) or Vermont (roughly 1,800 divorces annually). Search "[your state name] county clerk directory" in any search engine, and you'll land on the state's official page within the first few results.

Once you land on your state's directory, you'll see a list of all counties. Click on the county where the divorce occurred. You'll find the main phone number, physical address, website, and sometimes email contact information. Many county clerk websites now include specific phone numbers and email addresses for their vital records or family law divisions—use those when they're available because you'll reach someone who handles divorce records specifically, rather than general administrative staff.

Here's a practical detail: some large counties operate multiple office locations. Cook County, Illinois (which includes Chicago) has several branches. If you're searching for records in a big county, check whether there are satellite offices closer to you, though most county clerk websites now allow you to request records by mail, phone, or online regardless of location.

Keep track of details as you gather them. Write down the county name, phone number, mailing address, website URL, and any specific instructions for ordering records. This information forms your road map for the next steps.

Your takeaway: Use your state's official county clerk directory to find the exact office, phone number, and address for the county where the divorce was finalized—not where you currently live.

What Information You'll Need to Provide

County clerk offices ask for specific details when you request divorce records. Having this information ready before you contact them speeds up the process and makes your request clear and complete. The more accurate your information, the faster they can locate the correct file.

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First, you'll need the full names of both people involved in the divorce. Provide first, middle, and last names as they appear on the divorce decree. If either person changed their name during the process, note that. Some counties ask for maiden names or name changes to help narrow down the search. It sounds redundant, but "Sarah Johnson" and "Sara Jonson" might take longer to locate if the clerk has to search both spellings.

Second, provide the year the divorce was finalized or filed. Counties organize records chronologically, and this year narrows the search considerably. If you're not certain of the exact year, give your best estimate and a range if possible. For example: "I believe it was finalized in 2015 or 2016" is more useful than no date at all. Divorce records in most counties go back decades—some have digitized records back to the 1980s or 1990s, while others maintain paper files from even earlier.

Third, if you know it, provide the case number. This is the court's file number assigned to the divorce case. If you have any paperwork from the divorce—old correspondence, a settlement agreement, anything official—the case number usually appears somewhere. If you provide this, the clerk can pull the file in seconds. If you don't have it, that's fine; they can search by name and date instead, though it takes slightly longer.

Some clerks ask additional questions: Are you a party to the divorce (meaning one of the two people), or are you a third party requesting the records? Do you need certified copies (official documents with a court seal and signature) or uncertified copies (informational documents)? Some counties charge different fees for each. Are you requesting by mail, phone, in person, or online? Each method has its own process, which we'll cover in the next section.

Your takeaway: Gather the full names of both people, the year the divorce was finalized, and the case number if you have it. This information makes your request clear and helps the county clerk locate the file quickly.

Three Methods for Requesting Records: In Person, By Mail, and Online

You have options for how you actually request the divorce records. Different methods work better for different situations, and costs and timelines vary. Understanding each method helps you choose what fits your needs.

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Requesting in person: Walking into the county clerk's office with your request is often the fastest way to get records. You'll go to the clerk's office, speak with a staff member, provide your information, pay a fee (usually between $5 and $25 per document, depending on the county), and sometimes leave with the records the same day. Some offices have walk-up windows; others require you to take a number or make an appointment. Call ahead to ask about hours and any documents you should bring. Bring a photo ID and be prepared to explain why you need the records if asked—though as public documents, most counties hand them over to anyone without questions.

The downside of in-person requests: if the county is far from where you live, travel costs and time might not be worth it. Also, if the records office is understaffed or busy (many county clerks' offices are, especially in large counties), you might spend hours waiting.

Requesting by mail: You can send a written request to the county clerk's office. Write a brief letter with the names, approximate year, and case number if you have it. State that you're requesting a certified copy of the divorce decree (specify "certified copy" if you need an official version, or "informational copy" if an uncertified version is fine). Include a check or money order for the expected fee—most counties list their fees on their website or tell you when you call. Send it to the address listed on the county clerk's website.

Turnaround time for mail requests typically ranges from 1 to 4 weeks, depending on how busy the office is. Some counties are faster; others slower. Call ahead to ask about their typical processing time so you know what to expect. If you're in a rush, this method is slower than in person, but it works if you can't travel to the county.

Requesting online: A growing number of counties