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Look Up Divorce Records California

How Can I Look At An Electronic Court Record

Searching for marriage and divorce records

There are two ways to look at electronic court records:

  • On a computer at the courthouse.
  • On a computer, tablet, or smart phone anywhere with an internet connection, such as your home, or the public library. This is known as remote access.

How you can access an electronic record depends on your relationship to the case. If you are a party, you have full remote access. If you are a member of the public, there may be limits on what you can see through remote access.

Accessing Divorce Files At The Courthouse

You can access a couples complete divorce file at the courthouse. You will need to know which court handled the divorce. While California does maintain a court records archive, courts only transfer files to the archive when they need additional space. Divorce records might take two to five years to reach the central archive.

When you go to the courthouse, you will need to give the clerk enough information to look up the divorce file for you. The case number usually provides the quickest access to the file. You can get the case number from the online docket. You can also access the divorce file using the names of the divorcing couple.

To Search Through The California Department Of Public Health

To get a copy of the Divorce Record youre looking for through the CDPH, try using a third party website to expedite the process. If you decide to rely on traditional government services, there are a number of steps to complete first.

  • Determine which type of Divorce Record you need. There are two types of certified copies offered by the CDPH: an .

    The authorized copy can be used for official purposes such as establishing identity. Please note that both types of copies are defined as certified. An Authorized Copy can be obtained by:

  • The registrant, or the parent or legal guardian of the registrant
  • The child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner of the registrant
  • The party entitled to receive the record as result of a court order
  • A member of a law enforcement agency or representative of a government agency who is conducting official business

An Information Copy contains the same information as an Authorized Copy, but is marked as an Informational Copy, and cannot be used as a Valid Document to Establish Identity. Please note that both types of copies are defined as certified.

  • Obtain a notarized, sworn statement, as it is required for obtaining certified copies of marriage and divorce records.

  • Be ready to pay between $14 for each copy of the Divorce Record you need. Make checks or money orders payable to CDPH Vital Records.

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    Are Divorce Records Public In California

    by Vonder Haar Law OfficesJan 9, 2019Divorce

    For some couples, the prospect of divorce is worrisome not only because of the actual process itself, but also because of the disclosure of the divorce as a matter of public record. In California, divorces are public record and are accessible through the California Department of Public Health. Informational copies of divorce records are available to anyone upon request.

    Getting California Divorce Records Online

    Moving on: 83 year

    Several third-party websites that offer information about marriage and divorce records. However, before you start searching, get some basic information about the involved parties. At a minimum, you should try to get:

    • The full name of each spouse
    • The county where the couple filed for divorce
    • The divorce date or at least a range of dates
    • Which judicial circuit court finalized the divorce

    Once you have the above information, head over to www.open-public-records.com. Fill out the required fields to start your search, and voilàyou will receive all the public information about the person you searched for, including any divorce records. Its that easy!

    Note: Divorce records, certificates, and decrees that contain sensitive information like personal information about minors, finances, or crimes like domestic abuse are harder to obtain. They likely wont show up on public record websites.

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    Official & Public Records Portal

    Official records include vital records, such as birth, death and marriage certificates, as well as other official documents such as deeds, judgements, orders, release, etc.

    Public records include items such as board and committee meeting agendas and minutes, hearing notices, property assessments and taxes, and more.

    The County links listed below provide access to many of the public and official records mentioned above. If specific information cannot be obtained through the website, a Public Records Act request can be submitted.

    Under the California PRA, citizens have the right to access public information held by state and local agencies. Citizens can access public records by submitting an online request through the Sutter County Public Records Center

    Why Does This Matter

    The most common concern of having a divorce record being public information is because of religion. Many religions heavily frown upon, or outright forbid, divorce. Catholicism, for example, does not allow remarriage after divorce if both spouses are still living and there has not been an annulment.

    A spouse who wants, or has gotten a divorce, but who also wants to remain a member of their church, may worry about friends or family finding out if the records are public.

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    Information You Need To Find A Court Record Online

    You can locate a case if you know:

    • The name of a party associated with the case, or
    • The case number, or
    • The District Attorney case number.

    Be aware: Civil Limited and Misdemeanor Records may be available only for 10 years for some court locations. Juvenile cases are not included in this index. Additional information on older cases may be found on microfilm. Microfilm research is not performed by court staff however, microfilm is available at each court location for your use. Register of Actions information is available only for Civil and Probate cases initiated on or after January 1, 2008.

    Court Case Information And Document Sales

    Perform A Divorce Record Search In MINUTES

    The Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino has implemented an enhanced service which provides remote access to document images from case filings in civil matters. The fee for access to these documents is $0.50 per page. We provide remote public access to documents authorized by statute for public viewing. Remote access by the public to any other documents is not available at this time. For a definition of remote access please visit

    The Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, is implementing a new case management system. As part of that implementation, the Court is converting its court records from paper to electronic format.

    All court records are handled with extreme care and confidentiality during the conversion process and the Court believes and is confident all records, and information contained therein, converted to electronic format and available through the Courts hosted online access service are accurate and reliable. However, all records and other data provided by the Court through its online access service is provided “as is” with no warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to, implied warranty for fitness for a particular purpose.

    The Court assumes no liability or responsibility for technical inaccuracies or typographical errors in records, information, and related graphics included in the Courts online access service.

    Accept Court Access Portal NEW! Accept Classic Portal

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    Divorce Records Are Available Online

    California courts have online dockets that provide the case number, the filing date, the parties, and a list of the pleadings of a divorce case.

    The electronic docket will also include a list of all the orders issued by the judge in the case. The electronic docket does not include copies of the parties filings.

    Courts in California also make some court documents available online. But under Californias court rules, courts cannot post divorce filings online.

    This means that if you want anything more than the online docket, you must visit the courthouse where the parties filed for the divorce.

    Access To Electronic Court Records

    • Go to the courthouse and ask to look at paper records.
    • Go to the courthouse and look at electronic court records.
    • If your court offers it, look at electronic records over the internet. This is called remote access.

    This page is about electronic records and tells you:

    • WHAT is an electronic court record,
    • WHO can look at an electronic court record, and
    • HOW to look at an electronic court record.

    If your court does not keep electronic records, you will need to go to the courthouse in person to look at paper records.

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    Q: Should I Use This Form If I Need Information About A Case Such As A Copy Of Divorce Records Criminal Records A Case Record An Order Or My Case File

    A: No. Only use this form to make requests for copies of judicial administrative records. If you are looking for a copy of a divorce decree, criminal record, complaint, judgment, traffic ticket, order, or information on a case, please contact the clerk of the court where the case was filed for the proper request form. To quickly access court websites, please click here.

    What Do Divorce Records Show You

    Riverside California Marriage Records

    Divorce records are just one example of the public records available on the web. You can search by the individuals full name or by the name that persons former spouse. The records will show you:

    • The full names of each half of the couple
    • Where they were married
    • The person who officiated the wedding
    • When the wedding took place in terms of date
    • The names of the witnesses who were there

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    What Is An Electronic Court Record

    When someone files a case in court, the court will keep an official record about the case. Information about you may be contained in a court record. For example, if you file a lawsuit claiming another person owes you money, your name and how much money you are asking for will become part of the court record.

    A court may keep a record in paper or electronic format. A record kept in electronic format is known as an electronic record. An electronic record can only be viewed on an electronic device such as a computer, tablet, or cell phone.

    Where Divorce Records Are Available

    The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk does NOT record or house divorce records or information.

    Record information for divorce filings is available at the Los Angeles Superior Court where the divorce was filed. If the Superior Court location is not known, information can be obtained at the County Courthouse by calling at 830-0803 or going to 111 North Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

    Divorce filings that took place within the Central Los Angeles area are transferred to the County Record Center normally within two to three years of the filing.

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    Need Help With Your California Divorce

    Contact A Peoples Choice if you require assistance with filing for divorce or have questions about divorces in California. Our legal document assistants will be happy to provide you with information about the divorce process. We can also help you file for divorce and take care of all the paperwork for you. Call 800-747-2780!

    How Can I Get A Copy Of My Divorce In California Online

    How to find vital records, births, marriages, deaths, divorces

    Divorce records are among the important records maintained by the California Department of Public Health. These records can be obtained by visiting the departments website or by visiting the office. In addition, divorce records are available at the Superior Court of California.

    If the decree was made by the High Court, it is only possible to obtain a copy. The court would need to look through the following information in order to find the specific decree. If you dont know the case number but have the exact date, the Registrar at the Registry can look up the divorce records for that year, month, and day using the case number. If you had the same year as that year but no month or day, the Registrar would have to look through all divorces from that year in that specific court. Your partner may be able to speed things up if she can provide the divorce case number to you. If your partner obtained a decree of divorce from the High Court, you must have it registered at Home Affairs.

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    Responses To California Divorce Records Search

  • Majorie, if you need a copy of your California divorce certificate you will want to contact the clerk of the courts in the county where you filed for divorce. They will be able to assist you with obtaining a copy. If you remember the actual courthouse you can typically order a certified copy of your CA divorce certificate on their website and have it mailed to you for a nominal fee

  • Kimbra Holbrooksays:

    When I click on Calidornia divorce records it takes me to Penbsylvania license look-up also.

  • squarryadministratorsays:

    Kimbra, thank you for the update on the broken link. We have fixed the California divorce record link destination

  • R.J. Bennettsays:

    I am in need of proof of my legal name change which is contained somewhere in my divorce case documents. I need this so that I can apply for a Star Card. I have the case number and copies of TONS of documents/filings/etc. but NOT the actual signed order for name change. I changed my entire name, both first and last names.Is there somewhere online where I can ago to view my entire file? My attorney is no longer practicing and I live out of state.

    Thanks very much for any advice/information you can provide!

  • Rick Scottsays:

    Every time I click on your link to look at the California divorce records it takes me to the Pennsylvania License plate site.

  • Confidential Information Parties Agree To Redact

    During divorce cases, the parties might agree to keep some information confidential. For example, both parties might want to keep bank statements, credit card records, business valuations, and other financial information confidential.

    In most cases, you cannot access this information because it never entered the public record.

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    How Long Does It Take To Get A Divorce Certificate In California

    In order to file for divorce in California, both parties must go through a series of steps. Even if both parties agree to the dissolution right away, California divorces can take at least six months to complete.

    How To Request A Certified Copy Of Your Divorce Decree

    If you want to request a certified copy of your divorce decree via mail, please follow these steps: The Request for Certified Copy of Judgment forms should be filled out and mailed to the address listed on the forms. Check to see if your request is still pending. If you havent received a response within six weeks, please contact our court number listed on the Request for Certified Copy of Judgment form .

    Ways Couples Can Avoid Public Disclosure

    Sample California Divorce Agreement

    Since California makes divorce records readily available, many couples resolve their issues in a confidential settlement agreement and simply ask the judge to issue a divorce decree.

    The public divorce decree will cover the main points of the divorce, but all of the underlying records will remain confidential.

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    Divorce Records Are Available At The Courthouse

    You can access copies of all documents that a couple files in a divorce at the courthouse. You can also get copies of all decisions issued by the judge, including the final divorce decree.

    The divorce decree sets out all the terms of the divorce, including:

    Courts offer two types of certified records. Informational copies do not have the courts seal on them. Authorized copies are official records of the court.

    The court only makes authorized copies available to the parties and the lawyers in the case.

    Who Can Look At Electronic Court Records

    The public is allowed to look at court records for most cases. However, there are some court records the public is not allowed to see. This happens when a law or court order makes a record confidential.

    Examples of confidential cases include juvenile dependency and juvenile delinquency . Court records for these cases are not available to the public.

    In other cases, there are certain documents in the case file that are not available to the public. An example of these is a fee waiver application. The public may be able to see part of the court record but would not be able to see this document.

    Even when the public is not allowed to look at a court record, there will still be certain people who are allowed. For example, if you are a party in a case, you can look at the court record even if the public cannot.

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    Certified Copies Of Divorce Records In California

    The California Department of Public Health?s Vital Records department allows anyone to obtain a copy of a divorce record in California. They only way to obtain a copy of this record through this facility is by mail. Anyone in need of a divorce record from the vital records office must provide an application form, which is found on the department?s website. Certified copies are only available to the parties listed on the divorce record, their children, or their own parents. Otherwise, only informational copies are available to the general public.

    Your name The names of the parties on the certificate The sworn statement $15 for each copy you request

    This information is available online, and it?s to be mailed to the vital statistic?s office as listed on the application. The processing time for a copy using this method takes 3 to 6 weeks.

    Copies can be obtained faster and in person by visiting the local California county clerk?s office or recorder?s office in the county where the divorce was granted. It?s imperative to keep in mind the fees in person might differ from those offered by the vital statistic?s office, and not all county clerk offices take the same methods of payment. Call to inquire about the details and the specifics, and be sure to bring with you a copy of your photo identification if you hope to receive a divorce record.

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