Every divorce that is properly filed and completed leaves a divorce
record. To check whether your divorce is really finalized - or to check to see
whether someone else's divorce has gone through - you need to check the divorce
record. You can now check your divorce record - or the divorce record of someone
else - online. A divorce is a public record, meaning that anyone could check
your divorce record. Your divorce record, if you have gone through a divorce,
will be filed in the state in which the divorce was filed and finalized. The
federal government does not keep your divorce record. You can check you divorce
record at sites such as DivorceRecord.com, which allow users to search for divorce
records anywhere in the world. In most cases, your lawyer should give you a
copy of your divorce record when your divorce is finalized as you will need
this record when you change your name on your documents (if you are a woman)
or to prove that you are no longer divorced if you need to apply for a marriage
licence or other document that requires such proof.
To get a copy of your divorce record, you can also contact your local vital-records
office. You can find this office by looking at the National Center for Health
Statistics (NCHS) site (www.cdc.gov/nchs). NCHS will be able to let you know
what fee your state charges you for viewing a divorce record. The NCHS will
even tell you where to access other types of public record. When you request
your divorce record in most states, you will need to provide the full names
of the couple, the date of dissolution of marriage; the city, county, and state
where the marriage was dissolved; and the type of final decree. In most states,
you also need to indicate why you are asking for the divorce record and you
will need to indicate what your relationships to the couple or individual is.
You will need to provide your contact information and your full name as well
as the total fee for the divorce record. In exchange for this information, you
can geta copy or even multiple copies of the divorce record. While these policies
mean that there is a record of the people who view your divorce record, you
will not be contacted each time your divorce record is viewed. This means that
the record could be viewed by anyone with an interest in seeing whether your
divorce is final.
