Divorce Records

A divorce record, also known as a marriage dissolution certificate, belongs in the category of vital records. Utilized by the government for civil registration periods, divorce records help the government protect each individual's civil rights by recording their information legally.

Genealogists often utilize divorce records in their research in order to delve deeper into the lives of ancestors. While they do indicate the date of divorce and the name of the divorcees, they may also provide information regarding the dates of birth, addresses, names of the children, and even the terms of the divorce. All of this information can help paint a more robust photo of a family's history, as well as spark different avenues of research.

Official and Indexed Divorce Records

Genealogists can find divorce records through two means: official and indexed routes. Official death records are those that can be accessed, for a fee ranging from $12 to $20, through each state's Department of Health and Vital Records. Most states allow the public to access divorce records, although some states will require that a staff member assists you with more recent divorce records to ensure that confidential information is kept private.

In contrast, indexed divorce records are available through websites, which can make your search easier. While there are many free websites, the accuracy of this information is not guaranteed. Subsequently, it may be worth the investment to purchase indexed divorce records through authoritative resources.

Where to Access Divorce Records

Depending upon each state, you can access divorce records through several avenues.

• State Superior Court: Check with your state's superior court, specifically the family law division or civil records department, to search for divorce records.
• County Superior Court: You can also research the divorce records kept in the superior court at the county level. Again, this information will typically be filed with the family law division or the civil records department.
• County Clerk's Office: If researching at the court level does not provide you with the appropriate divorce record, then look into the specific county clerk's office. Some states, such as Florida, organize all of their civil records in the Official Records Index that is maintained by the county clerk.
• Authoritative Online Resources: Divorce records can also be easily researched and accessed through authoritative online genealogy resources, such as Archives.com and VitalChek.com, to guarantee accuracy.

Helpful Tip

Divorce records can provide you with insightful information about your ancestors not available through other civil records. The divorce record will give you an idea of how long people were married, how many children they had and where they lived. Based upon this information, you may be able to utilize other avenues of research, including related newspaper articles, which could shed even further light on your family history.