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California 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.

For those who want to obtain divorce records, they can visit the State's Vital Records or CDPH vital records division. The Office cannot issue a certified copy of the divorce; however, they can issue a Certificate of Record which contains information such as the parties named in the divorce proceeding, case number and the county where the record is filed. The certificate does not include any information pertaining to the result of the proceeding. Records available include divorces from 1962 up until June 1984.

For those individuals who only require some information, they can request for a Certificate of Record from CDPH. A downloadable guide or pamphlet is available from the CDPH site, which contains a systematic guide as well as a request form that one needs to fill up and send to the Vital Records office. All fees are non-refundable and in case no records are shown, a Certificate of No Public Records is issued. The Office accepts only checks and money order only. Processing can exceed 6 months depending on the volume of requests received.

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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