How to get divorce records
There are two different documents. The divorce decree is the court's judgment and is kept by the clerk of the court that granted the divorce. Some states also issue a short divorce certificate or verification from the state vital records office. Most agencies want a certified copy of the decree.
On this page
Decree, certificate or verification
The decree sets out the terms of the divorce and is part of the court file. A state certificate or verification only confirms that a divorce took place. In Texas, for example, certified decrees come only from the district clerk of the county that granted the divorce, while the state health department issues verification letters (see Texas divorce records).
Who may order
Divorce files are court records and many states treat them as public, with sensitive parts such as financial affidavits or child-related records kept confidential. State certificates are often limited to the spouses and their representatives. Each state page quotes the rule.
Divorce records by state
| State | Who holds it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Full case file: Circuit Clerk in the county of divorce. Divorce certificates: state Center for Health Statistics (from 1950) | $15.00 incl. one certified copy |
| Alaska | Divorce case file and decree: the Superior Court (Alaska Court System) location where the case was filed. One-page divorce certificate: Health Analytics & Vital Records. | Court: copies $5.00 first document/$3.00 each additional |
| Arizona | Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce (dissolution) was granted. | Certified copy of a decree: per-page copy fee ($.50) plus certification ($30 statutory |
| Arkansas | Circuit Clerk (domestic relations division of circuit court) holds the decree | ADH divorce record: $10.00 per copy ($10 kept as search fee if none found) |
| California | Superior Court (clerk) of the county where the divorce was granted | $18 per copy (CDPH VS 113B Certificate of Record) |
| Colorado | Clerk of the District Court where the dissolution was granted (Colorado Judicial Branch) | Court: certified copy $20.00 per document plus $0.25/page copies |
| Connecticut | Clerk of the Superior Court where the divorce (dissolution) was granted | Superior Court clerk statutory fees (sec. 52-259): copy of a judgment file $25 certified / $15 uncertified |
| Delaware | Family Court of the county where the divorce was granted issues certified copies of decrees | $4.00 per certified copy of a divorce or annulment decree |
| District of Columbia | DC Superior Court, Family Court (filings through the Central Intake Center, Moultrie Courthouse JM-540 | $5 per certified copy |
| Florida | Divorce (dissolution) judgment/court file: Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where granted | DOH by mail/walk-in: $5 (search of one calendar year + one certified copy, non-refundable) |
| Georgia | Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted | Clerk copy fees: $0.50/page uncertified |
| Hawaii | Family Court of the circuit where the divorce was granted (Legal Documents Branch). Effective February 1, 2026, the Department of Health no longer maintains any divorce records or issues divorce certificates. | Court copy fees: $1.00 first page, $0.50 each additional page |
| Idaho | Divorce decree: the court (district court clerk) in the county where the divorce was granted. Divorce certificate (abstract, not the decree): DHW Vital Records, from May 1947. | $1.00 per page |
| Illinois | Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the dissolution was granted | $5 |
| Indiana | Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the divorce (dissolution) was granted | Clerk copy fee max $1/page |
| Iowa | Clerk of District Court in the county where the case was filed holds the decree/case file | Court copies $0.50/page |
| Kansas | Clerk of the District Court in the county where the divorce was filed (decrees | KDHE divorce certificate $20 per certified copy (eligible requesters |
| Kentucky | Circuit Court Clerk of the county that granted the decree (Circuit/Family Court case file) | $6 at Office of Vital Statistics |
| Louisiana | Clerk of court of the parish where the divorce was granted (district court record) | Clerk copy/certification ceilings: copies $1 per page |
| Maine | Court that heard the case holds the case file and judgment | $15 certified, $6 each additional same record |
| Massachusetts | Probate and Family Court in the county where the divorce was granted | $20 certificate of divorce absolute |
| Michigan | Circuit court clerk (county clerk) keeps the case file | State: $34.00 search including one certified copy |
| Minnesota | District court in the county that granted the divorce | Generally $14 |
| Mississippi | Chancery Clerk of the county where the divorce was granted (certified decree) | Statistical Report of Divorce: $17 for one non-certified copy |
| Missouri | Circuit Clerk of the county where the dissolution decree was granted (certified copy of decree). | — |
| Montana | Clerk of District Court in the county where the dissolution was filed | $10 for a copy of a dissolution decree |
| Nebraska | Clerk of the district court in the county where granted holds the decree/case file | $16 per DHHS divorce certificate. |
| Nevada | District court where the divorce was granted (county clerk / clerk of the court | District court copy fees per NRS 19.013 ($0.50/page |
| New Hampshire | Divorce case files: Circuit Court Family Division (32 locations in 10 counties). Divorce certificates: DVRA and city/town clerks | — |
| New Jersey | Superior Court of New Jersey (Family Part) | — |
| New Mexico | District court where the order was filed | — |
| New York | Divorce decree (full judgment): County Clerk, usually in the county where the plaintiff lived | NYS DOH divorce certificate: $30 by mail |
| North Carolina | Clerk of Superior Court in the county where filed holds the decree | $24 nonrefundable search fee per three-year period, includes one copy if found |
| North Dakota | Clerk of court or recorder in the county where the decree was granted, as listed by HHS. | Court schedule: certified copy $20, additional copies of the same document $10. HHS does not state a divorce-copy fee on this page. |
| Ohio | Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas (domestic relations) in the county where finalized | $1 per page including certificate and seal (clerk statutory fee) |
| Oklahoma | Court Clerk of the district court in the county where the divorce (dissolution of marriage) was granted | Court clerk copy fees: $1.00 first page, $0.50 subsequent pages |
| Oregon | Divorce (dissolution) case files and judgments: the circuit court of the county where filed. Certified dissolution certificates: Oregon Center for Health Statistics (court clerks report each dissolution to CHS). | OHA certificate: $25 search and first copy, $25 each additional (online VitalChek total $47.50 |
| Pennsylvania | County Prothonotary where the divorce was filed | — |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Family Court, Domestic Relations Clerk's Office | — |
| South Carolina | Decree: Clerk of Court in the county where filed (Family Court). State: DPH holds only a Report of Divorce, not the decree | $12 search including one certified copy |
| South Dakota | Divorce decrees: Clerk of Courts in the county where filed. Divorce certificates: only the DOH State Vital Records Office | $15 per certified or informational divorce record from DOH |
| Tennessee | Divorce case file: clerk of the court that granted it (Circuit Court Clerk or Clerk and Master of Chancery Court). Divorce certificates: Office of Vital Records (last 50 years) | $15.00 per certified copy from the Office of Vital Records |
| Texas | District Clerk of the county where the divorce was granted (certified decrees only there) | $5 certificate and seal plus $1 per page (district clerk) |
| Utah | District court where the divorce was finalized holds the decree and case file | OVRS divorce certificate $25 (additional same-day copies $10) |
| Vermont | Family Division of the Superior Court in each county (case file) | $10.00 per certificate |
| Virginia | Circuit court clerk holds the divorce case file and final decree | $15 per certified copy or search (no refund if not found) |
| Washington | Divorce decrees: county superior court clerk where the divorce was finalized. DOH issues one-page divorce certificates (1968-present). | DOH certificate $25 |
| West Virginia | Divorce cases are heard in family court | Circuit clerk: $1 per page for copies going out of the office (certification fee not separately itemized in § 59-1-11) |
| Wisconsin | Divorce judgment/decree: clerk of circuit court in the county where granted. Certificate of Divorce (one-page summary): State Vital Records Office and registers of deeds. | $20 first copy |
| Wyoming | Decree and case file: clerk of district court in the county where granted. Divorce/annulment reports are sent monthly to the state registrar, so WDH Vital Statistics Services can issue divorce certificates. | District court statutory copy fee $1.00 first page, $0.50 each additional |
Each state links to its guide, where every office and fee carries its official source and check date. Fees shown are the state’s fee for a copy; the state guide lists the others.
Get copies from the office, not a look-alike site
Searching an official index costs nothing or the fee the office sets. Some commercial sites that rank for record searches sell subscriptions or reports that are not certified copies. How to tell them apart.